Step-by-step, SWITCH participant finding the light For decades, Gary was in hiding. He just didn’t know it. “Growing...
Memphis Allies Posts
Most Recent Memphis Allies Posts
Nothing to Lose
‘These guys have nothing to lose’ is why Memphis Allies’ Tito Porter does what he does A gun, Tito Porter says, is...
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...
More Memphis Allies Posts
CVI Work is Like Running a Marathon
CVI work is like running a marathon at a sprinter’s pace Attendance at second Breakthrough Conference in Memphis doubles from 2023. In a large ballroom at the Memphis Hilton, almost 500 people had gathered for the 2024 Breakthrough Conference dedicated to community...
Self-Care Isn’t Selfish
The danger of being on the front lines is never just immediate. Sometimes, it’s the collateral damage that hits home. This is true for combat veterans – many of whom suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), for law enforcement, for firefighters and...
A ‘Peacekeeping’ Mission
Memphis Allies: A ‘peacekeeping’ mission in progress Recently, Antonio Dowdy’s phone rang in the middle of the night. Dowdy, as a Memphis Allies outreach specialist, works to establish relationships with young people most at risk for gun violence. That means...
Ashley Furniture and The Grizzlies
Community Spotlight: Ashley’s and the Grizzlies give children a special night at FedEx Forum Ashley’s Hope to Dream initiative partnered with the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Allies to bring beds to the children and siblings of Memphis Allies participants and...
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...