‘Think first’ is advice Terranze Sharp wishes someone had given him “You always have the right to choose. You choose...
Memphis Allies Posts
Most Recent Memphis Allies Posts
Impact, Truth, Grind and Unity
Youth Villages employees learn about Memphis Allies’ tireless work to reduce gun violence Each year, the Youth...
Not Left Behind
Not left behind, Calvin Sanford finds his mission as a SWITCH Youth life coach In 2010, Calvin Sanford was staring at...
More Memphis Allies Posts
Training Never Stops
At Memphis Allies, the training never stops Every day in Memphis, businesses provide their employees with continuing education and new training. It’s a temperature check of sorts. How are our employees doing? Are they consistently applying best practices? Where can...
Meet Christina
Behind the Scenes with Memphis Allies: Christina Gann, a guiding light When the Memphis Allies initiative to reduce gun violence launched in 2021, the enormity of the challenge was understood: People on the front lines would be working with a high-risk population,...
Meet Randy
Elite Boxing and Randy Dixon Partner with SWITCH Youth Psychology student, college basketball player, and gang member. Randy Dixon was all three and not necessarily in that order. In fact, Dixon paired what he had learned in psychology class with his innate court...
Meet Cody
Meet Cody Brown: Helping Memphis Allies participants enter the workforce Creating strong community ties is critical when it comes to the work of Memphis Allies and that is just what Vocational Coordinator Cody Brown does. “My job is to do all the behind-the-scenes...
Meet Portia
Connecting high-risk individuals to the right services: Meet Portia Memphis Allies is increasing services to individuals at highest-risk for involvement in gun violence. Every day, Portia talks to youth, families and young adults, helping them connect to the right...
Meet Outreach Specialist Antonio Dowdy
Antonio Dowdy uses his experiences to save lives and reduce gun violence. Antonio Dowdy learned all the hard lessons guns can teach a young man in Memphis. Now, he’s working to make sure others learn from his experience and take easier paths. Dowdy grew up in the...
Playback Memphis
Playback Memphis brings drama therapy to Memphis Allies’ SWITCH participants As they work through the five phases of the SWITCH -- Support With Intention To Create Hope -- program model, our mission is to help participants change the trajectory of their lives....
Meet Life Coach Angelo
MEET MEMPHIS ALLIES: ANGELO, LIFE COACH, LIFELINE TO SUCCESS SWITCH TEAMCHANGING LIVES IS HIS CAREER Angelo was facing a really tough situation. He was living in a hotel and didn’t have the money to pay for even another night. He and everything he owned was about to...
Meet Renardo and I Shall Not Die But Live!
Memphis Allies is expanding the SWITCH – Support with Intention to Create Hope -- program to Orange Mound with a new partner and office. SWITCH serves individuals aged 17 to 30 who are at highest risk for involvement in gun violence. SWITCH is now serving...