Philadelphia Future Emerges From Past

PHILADELPHIA, MS – Philadelphia’s infamous past may be key to its economic future. 

At least that’s what community design specialist Randy Wilson learned from a three-day charrette with 59 community leaders. Wilson has worked on charrette teams in a number of cities and towns across the South, but his work on this week’s charrette in Philadelphia, Mississippi took him to new level. 

“Philadelphia has been the site of some of the most complicated racial issues in our country’s history,” said Wilson. “But when you look at the progress that has been made here, it is almost unbelievable.” 

The Philadelphia of today is a stark contrast to its past.  From a history highlighted by a civil rights slaying and chronic Indian unemployment, Philadelphia has rebounded to a progressive city with an African-American Mayor abutting a thriving Choctaw Indian reservation. 

“Our citizens take great pride in our community, and we do not shy away from our unique history. We have faced the past and learned from it,” said Pat Thomasson of Thomasson Lumber.  “This charrette will help us plan for our future and let us share this great place with others.” 

The charrette was a three-day, intensive design-oriented workshop that focused on the community’s assets and was steered by citizen input.  Under the management of Mississippi Main Street, design specialists from as far away as South Carolina and Maryland teamed up with state and local experts to devise a community development and branding program for the city. 

Because of the city’s rich history, several of the charrette team’s suggestions focused on cultural tourism. 

“Philadelphia is rich in assets and is primed to take advantage of many opportunities,” said Jan Miller, Central District Director for Mississippi Main Street.   Tripp Muldrow, an urban design and tourism specialist at Arnett, Muldrow, and Associates in South Carolina, suggested developing a tourism strategy aimed at Philadelphia’s successful reconciliation of the past to the present.

“Prior to this week I had no idea what a charrette really was,” exclaimed Steve Wilkerson, owner of “Steve’s on the Square” clothing store. “The presentation opened my eyes to what we really have here… and I have lived here all of my life! Thanks to Philadelphia Main Street, Mississippi Main Street, and East Central Community College for sponsoring this event.  Now let’s go to work.”

Philadelphia’s charrette is one of a series in West Alabama and East Mississippi funded by the WAEM Regional Initiative through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.