Memphis Allies Posts

Most Recent Memphis Allies Posts

Quincy reaches potential with SWITCH Youth

Quincy reaches potential with SWITCH Youth

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.

Trust is Earned, We’re Earning it

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

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.

Think First

Think First

For Terranze Sharp, the first critical moment arrived at age 15. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was a member of the Gangster Disciples. One day, he found himself facing a choice: What should he do about this grown man who appeared ready to hurt, or even kill, his friend and fellow gang member?

More Memphis Allies Posts

Meet Outreach Specialist Antonio Dowdy

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...

Meet Life Coach Angelo

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! 

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...

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty meets with a SWITCH Youth team

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty meets with a SWITCH Youth team

Sen. Hagerty and national visitors learn more about gun violence initiatives in Memphis As U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty looked on, life coaches and counselors reviewed the progress of one of the first participants in Memphis Allies’ SWITCH Youth program. SWITCH Youth –...

The Power of Two

The Power of Two

In SWITCH Youth, clinical specialists and life coaches team up to help high-risk youth Meet Memphis Allies Switch Youth Clinical Specialist: Taneshia Blackshire Growing up in a small town in Mississippi, Taneshia Blackshire always knew she had a fiery passion for...

Meet Memphis Allies: Life Coach Tony Matthews

Meet Memphis Allies: Life Coach Tony Matthews

A MEMBER OF THE LIFELINE TO SUCCESS SWITCH TEAM IN RALEIGH/FRAYSER Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Tony is part of the Lifeline to Success Switch team serving Raleigh/Frayser community. Growing up, Tony’s life lacked family stability and normalcy....

Meet Memphis Allies: Life Coach Florence Brooks

Meet Memphis Allies: Life Coach Florence Brooks

A MEMBER OF THE LIFELINE TO SUCCESS SWITCH TEAM IN RALEIGH/FRAYSER Life Coach Florence “Flo” Brooks brings some much-needed light and support to participants in the Memphis Allies SWITCH program in Raleigh/Frayser. Developed by Youth Villages in consultation with...

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...

Meet Memphis Allies: Brandon and Bryan Mathis, Life Coaches

Meet Memphis Allies: Brandon and Bryan Mathis, Life Coaches

The man was shot and killed in front of his 2-year-old daughter. It was another senseless homicide in Memphis; another child traumatized by gun violence. To Brandon and Bryan Mathis and the Memphis Allies team, this man, this incident was more than just a statistic....

This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee and with support of other funders