SWITCH Youth participant ‘Jaden’ has the ‘means and the skills’ for success Jaden was not in a good place when he...
Memphis Allies Posts
Most Recent Memphis Allies Posts
This is ‘Heart Work’
This is ‘heart work,’ says Memphis Allies SWITCH supervisor His name is Earve Mathis, but around Memphis Allies’ South...
Carl Davis receives HBCU Empowerment Award
Memphis Allies’ Carl Davis receives HBCU Empowerment Award By his own admission, proud Craigmont High School graduate...
More Memphis Allies Posts
Finding the Light
Step-by-step, SWITCH participant finding the light For decades, Gary was in hiding. He just didn’t know it. “Growing up, I created the mask,” he said. “Be the tough guy to exist in society.” Two years ago, when Gary entered Memphis Allies’ SWITCH program—for adults at...
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 just a means to an end. In fact, at age 19, it enabled Porter to have his own place. “My first apartment on my own was a jail cell,” he said. Porter...
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, 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,...
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. That is the goal—and the hope—for the new Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. At the recent press...
Think First
‘Think first’ is advice Terranze Sharp wishes someone had given him “You always have the right to choose. You choose the quality of your life by making the right decisions in the critical moments in your life.” –Terranze Sharp, SWITCH Youth team supervisor For...
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, 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 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...