Memphis Allies Posts

Most Recent Memphis Allies Posts

‘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 rapping, telling a real story, just without the cursing. He was giving the glory to God.”

Meet Team Supervisor TCion

Meet Team Supervisor TCion

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.

Meet Case Manager Alejandro

Meet Case Manager Alejandro

CASE MANAGER ALEJANDRO SALINAS ‘GOES THE EXTRA MILE’

Memphis Allies Case Manager Alejandro Salinas sees it all the time: trauma that impacts decision-making.

Community Attends ‘Walk Against Gun Violence’

Community Attends ‘Walk Against Gun Violence’

Change will require the ’collective us,’ Mayor Young says

Jevonte Porter, Memphis Allies’ community relations director, was pushing a stroller at the Ninth Annual Walk Against Gun Violence in Orange Mound. Porter’s passengers in that stroller were precious to him: 2-year-old Jevonte Jr., and 3-year-old daughter Madison.

More Memphis Allies Posts

TWINS Founders Brandon and Bryan

TWINS Founders Brandon and Bryan

Partners Spotlight: TWINS founders Brandon and Bryan Mathis When Brandon Mathis recalls how he and his twin brother Bryan grew up, he describes gunshots as “normal” and joining a gang at age 10 as like being in a fraternity. “You got a color, a letter, a family, a...

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....

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...

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...

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,...

CVI Work is Like Running a Marathon

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

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

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

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...