Elevating the Downtown Experience
To attract new businesses and promote continued development in Downtown Memphis, one foundational principle remains true: keeping Downtown safe, clean, vibrant, and welcoming for everyone. The future of Downtown depends on how people experience it, making it essential to maintain a strong sense of place for those who live here, work here, or simply stop by for dinner. This sense of place is at the core of Downtown’s brand and identity.
This past spring, the Downtown Memphis Commission(DMC), through support from the Hyde Family Foundation, launched a new partnership with Block by Block, a nationally recognized organization that manages more than 150 programs across the country. Through this partnership, Block by Block began overseeing the day-to-day operations of DMC ambassador teams, including the Blue Suede Brigade, the Safety Team, and the Clean and Green Team, while DMC still provides guidance and oversight. This collaboration has brought more specialized support, better equipment, and stronger strategies for maintaining Downtown.
- Blue Suede Brigade - These are the DMC team members in the light blue shirts, you might have noticed recently. These ambassadors provide hospitality and guest assistance, ensuring that everyone feels welcome.
- Safety Team - These are the DMC team members in yellow shirts, whom you might have noticed recently. The Safety team is focused on patrolling Downtown with an emphasis on safety and prevention. These members also staff the Downtown Command Center to provide real-time support and communication.
- Clean and Green Team - These are the DMC team members in the green shirts who are dedicated to the beautification of Downtown. This crew handles everything from planting flowers to litter pickup to power washing sidewalks, keeping our streets fresh and inviting.
Additionally, as part of the partnership with Block by Block, the DMC launched the Downtown Dispatch Center, which provides real-time assistance. Whether it is litter removal, pressure washing, or a safety escort, the public, including business owners, residents, and visitors, is encouraged to call 901-281-9146 for support.
This is a number you should save in your phone. While it is not an emergency line, it is the right one to call if you see an unhoused individual who needs assistance, if you notice blight or trash in an alley, or if you want to request a safety escort or cleanliness support.
Dispatch Center Hours of Operation
Sunday through Wednesday: 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM
Thursday through Saturday: 7:00 AM to Midnight
Real Impact You Can See
Behind every ambassador and team member on the streets are real results that improve life Downtown. Here’s a snapshot of the impact from late May to August.
- From May through August, ambassadors provided hospitality assistance to 1,176 people.
- They gave directions to 408 tourists, helping visitors navigate Downtown with ease.
- Ambassadors completed support check-ins with 113 businesses, ensuring connections and responsiveness to their needs.
- They offered 73 courtesy escorts, including safety walks and umbrella escorts during rainy weather.
- Ambassadors conducted 1,111 welfare checks for individuals in the community.
- They provided referrals for services to 42 neighbors experiencing homelessness, connecting them with resources and support.
- The Clean & Green Team cleaned 800 public infrastructure surfaces and repainted 41 surfaces across Downtown.
- They removed 400 illegal posters and stickers from the public realm.
- A total of 102 graffiti tags were removed, restoring walls and public areas.
- The team cleaned and beautified 2,023 public trash cans, maintaining a welcoming environment.
- Altogether, they cleaned 2,292 block faces—the sides of Downtown blocks between intersections—making a visible difference across the Downtown.
