The Town of Miami is a historic community with a rich history in copper mining. Incorporated in 1918, the Town established itself as a copper boom town while blending a new wave of business, arts, and tourism. While the Town seeks to revitalize its community by attracting new business and tourism, it also wants to preserve its historic roots. In a new partnership with ASU Project Cities, the Town of Miami is collaborating with ASU students and faculty to leverage the university for community development projects.

For its inaugural project, the Town is interested in engaging with its residents to identify its cultural, historical, social, and economic strengths that can establish the community as a destination. Students from the School of Social Transformation are conducting a series of surveys with Miami residents to capture the varied stories and perspectives of Miami’s rich history. 

Students from Greg Broberg’s JUS 301 Research Methods participated in a site visit to the Town of Miami at the Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum, where they heard from Town staff and leadership about the community’s history and culture. Following a tour of the Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum, students split into groups to survey key residents, including business owners, seniors, and Miami staff members. 

 

Project Cities is excited to launch its partnership with one of Arizona’s historic rural communities. This partnership provides ASU students and faculty an opportunity to engage with a local community to support its development and resiliency.

 

Project Cities is a member of the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network (EPIC-N) and is administered by ASU’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and the Sustainable Cities Network. Stay up to date with Project Cities and the Sustainable Cities Network by following us on social media or subscribing to our newsletter.