Key Findings and Focus Areas
The initiative conducted two surveys, one for adults and one for youth, along with several focus groups, from February to March 2024. Almost 300 residents from the Sasse Street neighborhood and surrounding areas participated.
Key Findings from the Surveys and Focus Groups
Housing Quality and Affordability
- 42% of adults report homes in need of repairs; 51% desire assistance with homebuying/repairs (Adult Survey).
Blight and absentee landlords exacerbate safety concerns (Focus Groups).
Youth note dilapidated housing as a reason to leave the community (Youth Survey).
Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity
- 25.7% of adults are unemployed; top job training interests include starting a business (18.2%) and healthcare (12.1%) (Adult Survey).
- 29% of youth plan to start a business after high school (Youth Survey).
- Youth cited lack of jobs, career exploration, and entrepreneurship support as reasons to leave Clarksdale (Focus Groups).
Financial Literacy and Economic Challenges
- 65.7% of adults want to learn about managing money; 41% say saving money is their biggest challenge (Adult Survey).
- 76% of youth report worrying about money; 30% worry “a lot” (Youth Survey).
- Only 54% of youth receive financial education at school, while 94% report learning about money at home (Youth Survey).
- “Banks are worse than payday loans now—fees pile up like crazy.” — adult participant (Focus Groups).
- Youth desire lessons on budgeting, credit, and entrepreneurship (Youth Survey).
Healthcare Access
- 21.9% of adults cite long-term illness as a major issue; 9.4% report lack of access to healthcare providers (Adult Survey)
- Seniors report needing to travel out of town for specialty care, which is a barrier due to transportation (Focus Groups).
- “You have to go to Memphis, Oxford, Cleveland ... everywhere but here.” — participant on accessing care (Focus Groups).
- Preference for in-person over telehealth care noted across sessions (Focus Groups).
Mental Health and Stigma
- 17.9% of adults identify stigma as a barrier to accessing mental health services (Adult Survey).
- Churches are often the first stop for support, but lack trained mental health providers (Focus Groups).
- “They offered me drugs [prescribed medication] first. I just wanted someone to talk to!” — adult participant (Focus Groups).
Community Engagement and Youth Retention
- 54% of youth say they might stay in Clarksdale if jobs, schools, and housing improved (Youth Survey).
- “Nothing positive happens here. It’s boring, no jobs, no sidewalks… Why stay?” — youth participant (Focus Groups).
- Youth want hands-on learning and meaningful roles in community planning (Focus Groups).
- Closure of safe youth spaces cited as a reason for disengagement (Focus Groups).
Institutional and Systemic Barriers
- Residents expressed distrust in landlords, banks, and local government programs (Focus Groups).
- 20% of adults do not use traditional banking; 20.9% use high-risk alternatives like payday loans (Adult Survey).
- Misinformation and poor outreach lead to missed resources and disengagement (Focus Groups).
Sasse Park as a Hub
- Youth suggest parks and recreation are key to quality of life and retention (Focus Groups).
- “If I could start a business doing what I love, maybe I’d come back.” — youth participant on entrepreneurship (Focus Groups).
- Lack of accessible community spaces contributes to boredom, crime, and youth flight (Focus Groups).
Proposed Goals and Objectives
Based on community voting, the initiative will select at least three of the focus areas below for the strategic wealth plan.
Housing
Objective A: Reduce blight and improve housing conditions near Sasse Park.
Goals:
- Identify a partner to renovate or repair 10 properties within a 1½-mile radius of Sasse Park by 2027.
- Provide tenant rights workshops to 100+ residents annually (in partnership with legal aid groups).
Objective B: Increase affordable homeownership opportunities.
Goals:
- Secure matching funding and partners to pilot an Individual Development Account program with 10 participants by 2027.
- Secure $250K in home repair grants for seniors/low-income residents by 2027.
Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity
Objective A: Create youth jobs tied to local industries and Sasse Park renovations and operations.
Goals:
- Work with local high schools, employers and other community partners to develop internships and apprenticeships in key industries, including construction and healthcare.
- Train and employ 20+ teens annually as lifeguards, landscapers, or concession operators at Sasse Park.
- Work with community partners to host four entrepreneurship bootcamps yearly for youth (e.g., food truck businesses, using park infrastructure).
Objective B: Expand adult job training in high-demand fields.
Goals:
- Work with partners to certify 15 adults in construction trades through park renovation or home repair apprenticeships.
- Place 10+ participants in healthcare jobs (e.g., clinic roles at Aaron E. Henry) by 2028.
Objective C: Expand and support the entrepreneurial ecosystem
Goal:
- Partner with local providers to provide small business incubator services and assist 10 new startups by 2027.
Financial Literacy and Economic Challenges
Objective A: Improve financial literacy for youth and adults.
Goals:
- Teach 100+ youth and their families budgeting/credit basics through implementation or expansion of "Bank-in-School" programs to all area middle and high schools.
- Host quarterly parent/child financial education workshops (attendance goal: 50 families/year).
Objective B: Reduce reliance on alternative financial services.
Goals:
- Open 50+ low-fee bank accounts for unbanked residents by 2027.
- Host quarterly workshops on avoiding predatory loans (attendance goal: 50 adults/year).
Healthcare Access
Objective A: Integrate health services into Sasse Park programming.
Goals:
- Work with partners to offer monthly health screenings (e.g., blood pressure, diabetes) at Sasse Park (500+ screenings/year).
- Recruit mental health providers to help host 12 "Wellness Walks" annually (combining physical activity and therapy discussions).
- Provide at least four nutrition/healthy cooking classes or demonstrations annually at the park (goal 40+ attendees).
Objective B: Increase the number of healthcare providers available.
Goal:
- Work with the hospital to recruit/partner with regional providers to bring specialists to Clarksdale on a permanent or visiting basis.
Mental Health
Objective A: Normalize mental health support.
Goals:
- Work with local providers to launch a peer-led support group at Sasse Park (10+ regular attendees by 2027).
- Provide Mental Health First Aid training to 100+ residents by 2027.
- Develop accessible programming for children and adults with special needs.
Objective B: Normalize Mental Wellness Through Community-Based Activities.
Goals:
- Partner with community groups to offer low-barrier, socially acceptable programs that reduce stigma and promote emotional well-being, such as art, music, and yoga classes (100+ regular attendees by 2027).
- Partner with organizations such as the Confess Projext to train barbers/hair stylists and pastors in non-clinical active listening; host monthly wellness check-ins (goal: 10 trained wellness ambassadors; 200+ yearly touchpoints).
Community Engagement and Youth Retention
Objective A: Make Sasse Park a community hub.
Goals:
- Organize 10+ annual events (e.g., movie nights, concerts) designed by youth planners.
- Achieve 75% youth satisfaction with park amenities (annual survey metric).
- Partner with tourism officials to host events in conjunction with at least one major festival to highlight Sasse Street.
- Provide community benefit infrastructure, such as free wifi.
Objective B: Reduce outmigration.
Goals:
- Create 5 youth-led businesses (e.g., concessions, guided tours) by 2027.
- Increase youth intent to stay in Clarksdale by 20% (pre/post-park renovation surveys).
Systemic and Institutional Barriers
Objective A: Improve trust in local institutions.
Goals:
- Establish the Sasse Street Neighborhood Association with membership of at least 10 residents and businesses by 2026.
- Work with partners to restart the adult and youth Leadership Clarksdale programs, with 10+ graduates from each program by 2027
Objective B: Streamline access to services.
Goal:
- Support the promotion of AEH’s Find Help platform and Continuum of Care projects.
Sasse Park As the Hub for Wealth Plan Activities
Objective: Use the park to advance multiple domains.
Goal:
- By 2026, 60% of park programs (e.g., fitness classes, job fairs) will explicitly link to housing, health, or workforce goals (tracked via participation data).
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