Design for Social Impact: Thrive in Helena, AR, a small Rural American Town

thrive.
DESIGN IN RURAL AMERICA

http://www.thrivecenter.org/

Thrive co-founders invited Memphis College of Art to visit their offices in Helena AR.

Thrive is currently looking for two entry-level designers to join their team. They are looking for creatives to implement design thinking (as well as their skills set!) to improve the economic, social, and environmental state of the rural town of Helena, AR. Thrive’s long-term goals include expansion into in other rural towns of America where similar efforts are needed.

Hyuna Park and I traveled with Director of Career Services, Carrie Brooks, and six talented student designers to check out what Thrive is all about.

Vision [from website]
One day creative professionals will work toward poverty alleviation in all rural areas of the United States. They will create Thrive Centers– physical places where dynamic partnerships unite to design and implement projects that create jobs and improve quality of life. Impoverished people will gain access to new opportunities, a generation of socially-minded designers will be birthed, and Rural America will export poverty solutions to the world.

Mission [from website]
To design development projects within under-resourced rural communities of the Mississippi Delta Region.