"NOTHING ABOUT US WITH US"
NEIGHBORHOOD EQUITY IN ACTION
BIO
Austin Harrison is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Urban Studies at Rhodes College and the founder of his own neighborhood revitalization consulting firm, A.T. Harrison & Associates. His research interests include neighborhood change, community development, urban policy, and shrinking cities. In addition to his research, Mr. Harrison has consulted with various entities across the country to implement programs and policies aimed at inclusively revitalizing neighborhoods, developing quality affordable housing, and stabilizing systemically disinvested communities. He also serves as a Research Fellow for Innovate Memphis, a data intermediary in Memphis, Tennessee focused on applied data analysis and research to drive advocacy for a variety of neighborhood-level challenges in the Memphis area.
DOING WHAT IT TAKES
Austin has nearly a decade as a practitioner in the neighborhood revitalization arena working in neighborhoods in Youngstown, Ohio, Macon, Georgia, and most recently, Memphis, Tennessee. Austin’s work spans various aspects of community development, from applied data analysis and policy advocacy to project management and community organizing. Action always looks different but begins the same, with existing residents at the center.
RESEARCH TO ACTION
Knowledge is power. So many communities find themselves unequipped with the information needed to fight for their neighborhoods. To combat this, I am researching realistic solutions to some of the most systemic problems facing our neighborhoods and distilling that research in a way that is actionable for practitioners.