Memphis Allies Posts

Most Recent Memphis Allies Posts

Quincy reaches potential with SWITCH Youth

Quincy reaches potential with SWITCH Youth

SWITCH Youth helping Quincy to realize his potential Memphis Allies’ SWITCH Youth program is not just trying to reach teenagers who might be prone to finding trouble. Rather, the goal is to reach those most at risk for involvement in gun violence. “Quincy,” age 17,...
Trust is Earned, We’re Earning it

Trust is Earned, We’re Earning it

Trust is earned, and Memphis Allies is earning it In the spring of 2022 in Raleigh/Frayser, Memphis Allies sent its first team of outreach specialists into neighborhoods rife with gun violence. Carl Davis, who is Memphis Allies’ operations director, and Trevon Toney,...
Think First

Think First

For Terranze Sharp, the first critical moment arrived at age 15. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was a member of the Gangster Disciples. One day, he found himself facing a choice: What should he do about this grown man who appeared ready to hurt, or even kill, his friend and fellow gang member?

Gun Violence Reduction Effort

Gun Violence Reduction Effort

New city/county office another step in the gun violence reduction effort

Sometimes, collaboration is a synonym for efficiency and effectiveness.

More Memphis Allies Posts

Impact, Truth, Grind and Unity

Impact, Truth, Grind and Unity

Youth Villages employees learn about Memphis Allies’ tireless work to reduce gun violence Each year, the Youth Villages Employee Conference brings together team members from across the country to Memphis. Not only is it a chance to make new connections—and reconnect...

Not Left Behind

Not Left Behind

Not left behind, Calvin Sanford finds his mission as a SWITCH Youth life coach In 2010, Calvin Sanford was staring at a potential 66-year prison sentence for aggravated robbery and burglary. “I didn’t do that one,” he said. “I knew who did, but I didn’t tell.”...

Memphis Allies at Autozone Park

Memphis Allies at Autozone Park

Memphis Allies visits the ‘pitch’ at AutoZone Park Awareness knows no bounds. So, it does not matter that in the Memphis neighborhoods with the most gun violence, pick-up basketball games are far more common than impromptu soccer matches. Recently, Memphis Allies used...

Red Door Urban Missions in South Memphis

Red Door Urban Missions in South Memphis

Memphis Allies partner Red Door Urban Missions has deep roots in South Memphis It is a quiet Monday morning—no immediate evidence of the gun violence that is rife in what Eric Watkins calls the “concrete jungle.” Watkins, founder of Red Door Urban Missions, is sitting...

Chance for Change

Chance for Change

SWITCH Youth: Every potential act of gun violence comes with a ‘why?’ Even when a shot has not been fired, the professionals working within Memphis Allies’ SWITCH Youth program understand time is of the essence. Recently, a teenager in the program got into an argument...

SWITCH Hosts Community Event

SWITCH Hosts Community Event

Raleigh/Frayser SWITCH participants put on event for the community Call it a matter of give and take. Before entering Memphis Allies’ programming, many of the participants had been taking from their own communities. But now, as stage 3 SWITCH participants, their focus...

Helping Heal the Hood

Helping Heal the Hood

Heal the Hood to provide ‘pro-social’ programming in support of SWITCH Youth Ladell Beamon’s Heal the Hood Foundation of Memphis, which impacts Memphis youth through the arts, is a new supporting partner of Memphis Allies’ SWITCH Youth program. As part of that...

‘Big Homie’ Partners with Memphis Allies

‘Big Homie’ Partners with Memphis Allies

Founder Tim Jones ‘knows how to reach the streets’ The first time Carl Davis saw him, Tim Jones was on stage at a Holy Hip-Hop event in North Memphis. “Giving his testimony, being relatable to the crowd,” said Davis, who is Memphis Allies Operations Director. “He was...

Meet Team Supervisor TCion

Meet Team Supervisor TCion

Outreach is local – whether in Memphis or Afghanistan When TCion Cason was a combat medic, his commander had three words for Army troops as they entered a new area of Afghanistan where the locals did not know them. “‘Hearts and minds,’ we were there to capture the...