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Equitable economic development design.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion

Client background

Supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, The We Grow KC Coalition recognized its unique position as a conduit for consensus building and moved to create an equitable plan to drive thought leadership, action, and desired outcomes that are measurable and repeatable.

As in many US cities, economic instability in Kansas City is pervasive and destabilizing. Kansas City's Eastside has explicitly been underserved, disenfranchised, and struggles to establish and maintain the cohesive community-building civic, entrepreneurial, political, neighborhood, educational partnerships. High crime rates, community breakdown and other socio-economic challenges perpetuate stereotypical treatment and limit effective investment and growth. The question to answer was how Kansas City could leverage its numerous assets to achieve a holistically beneficial and common goal to create growth and prosperity opportunities throughout its community, regardless of geographic location or demographic makeup.

Alignment of people and process. Refinement and synthesis of information gathered in listening workshops (all who can help with, or block implementation included) and people alignment collaborations.

As in many US cities, economic instability in Kansas City is pervasive and destabilizing. Kansas City's Eastside has explicitly been underserved, disenfranchised, and struggles to establish and maintain the cohesive community-building civic, entrepreneurial, political, neighborhood, educational partnerships. High crime rates, community breakdown and other socio-economic challenges perpetuate stereotypical treatment and limit effective investment and growth. The question to answer was how Kansas City could leverage its numerous assets to achieve a holistically beneficial and common goal to create growth and prosperity opportunities throughout its community, regardless of geographic location or demographic makeup.

Challenge

The Kauffman Foundation, on behalf of We Grow KC and participating constituents, needed assistance in developing its strategic approach and to define a prototype for the One Stop Shop concept.


Approach:

  1. Assemble community assets/leaders to address core problems and envision attainable solutions.

  2. Leverage these strategic and cohesive partnerships to create real, transformational change (financial, physical, social) for all parties.

  3. Define a strategic plan and associated tactics to build the foundation for and shepherd the creation of evergreen, generational wealth within the community utilizing an Opportunity Zones powered concept - The One Stop Shop.

Solution

As one of We Grow KC's partners, we employed a design-thinking perspective to help build consensus and move competing interests forward with a unified strategy. 

Impact

Market assessment


Field research


Strategy


Design thinking workshops


Product and process development

SERVICES

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion

CATEGORY

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