Memphis Allies Posts

Most Recent Memphis Allies Posts

Outreach Never Stops

Outreach Never Stops

Memphis Allies: Interrupting the drumbeat of gun violence Life coach Briant Kelly, also known as B Radical, has a routine with the guys he works with in Memphis Allies’ SWITCH program: he calls them first thing in the morning and again before they go to bed at night....
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Leadership Promotions at Memphis Allies

Leadership Promotions at Memphis Allies

Memphis Allies announces two leadership promotions As Memphis Allies moves into its third year of providing direct services to those most at risk for gun violence, Executive Director Susan Deason has announced two staff promotions: Jevonte Porter has been promoted to...
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Meet Regional Supervisor Aviance

Meet Regional Supervisor Aviance

Right where she is supposed to be, Aviance Brown-Austin was meant for this work Aviance Brown-Austin was born to a 15-year-old mother, and partially raised by a youngish grandmother. “Technically, I raised myself,” she said. “Along with the streets.” Aviance made her...
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The Pattern of Change Has Started

The Pattern of Change Has Started

For partner organizations, the pattern of change has started

Ephie Johnson, president and CEO of Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc., was a co-host of the first Breakthrough Conference in 2023. She liked what the national speakers on community violence intervention, or CVI, had to say. And she appreciated the effort to bring organizations together in one place.

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More Memphis Allies Posts

Youth Villages Launches $60 Million Gun Violence Reduction Initiative

Youth Villages Launches $60 Million Gun Violence Reduction Initiative

For more than a year, we’ve been working with community leaders and national experts to build Memphis Allies to address one of our community’s greatest challenges: deadly gun violence. We appreciate your support of the initiative and our work. Read this morning’s...

Meet Memphis Allies James Kirkwood, Law Enforcement Liaison

Meet Memphis Allies James Kirkwood, Law Enforcement Liaison

James Kirkwood grew up wanting to be a pastor – and a police officer. He did both. Kirkwood served for more than 30 years with the Memphis Police Department, rising to the rank of colonel, leading two of the city’s police precincts. At the same time, he became the...

Helping Young Men Choose a Different Path

Helping Young Men Choose a Different Path

This week, Royal Chatman will be in court supporting a young man who’s facing an aggravated assault charge. The stakes are high. The teenager could face incarceration… Chatman has personal experience with consequential days in court. He was not yet 21 years old when...