It must be that time of year when annual lists and reports are released. Several have crossed my desk this week dealing with health and environment as well as the Forbes ranking. The problem with snapshot lists is that they don’t capture trends, and may ignore the positive momentum cities like Memphis may be experiencing. To read the Forbes description, for example, the outside reader would have no idea about any of the positive initiatives happening right now.

So I propose a What’s Right Memphis Eco-Asset Map that lists the following projects (an illustrative not exhaustive list):

*Project Green Fork-certified restaurants
*Greater Memphis Greenline route
*Community Gardens (Sow to Grow and Grow Memphis)
*Green Publications (Edible Memphis and Going Green)
*Stores selling fresh fruits and vegetables
*All farmers markets
*All parks and recreation areas
*All fitness and yoga studios and bicycle shops
*All current and proposed skate parks
*Stores that sell or make biobased products
*All green and LEED certified buildings
*Recycling centers

Certainly I’m forgetting some things to include, so please fill me in on what should be included in this asset map. This would be a great tool for regional tourism, for real estate agents, for list-makers and for urban enthusiasts. I’m serious.

We should map these things and promote what’s right with Memphis. Not only would it show where things are going well, but it will show areas that need attention and certainly there are many, as I note in the Green Jobs Memphis post about recent health indicator reports. However, a community-wide “what’s right” map would show how and where all these individual efforts are making a difference. To fix the problems outlined in the recent health and environmental reports, you have to start somewhere.

Hopefully my next Smart City post will include said proposed map.