CRA Staff
Vivian Ekstrom
Director of Planning and Community Development
As the CRA’s Director of Planning and Community Development, Vivian works on implementing the Uptown Community Plan and returning vacant and blighted properties to productive use – whether that’s quality, affordable housing, businesses that provide services to residents, or community amenities such as parks or gardens. Ekstrom also works with the CRA team and community to integrate environmental sustainability and resilience into projects. This could include enhanced energy efficiency in housing, green infrastructure to help with flooding or pollution, or changes that make it easier to bike and walk. Ekstrom is a native Memphian and holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before her role with the CRA, Ekstrom was a Planner for The City of Raleigh, NC and most recently the Sustainability Manager for Memphis and Shelby County. There she worked with a team to implement critical strategies such as the Memphis Area Climate Action Plan and the Mid-South Regional Resilience Master Plan.