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 conference announcing this City of Memphis/Shelby County initiative, the respective mayors spoke optimistically about the impact that could be made in reducing gun violence.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris mentioned ongoing community violence intervention efforts, naming Memphis Allies and BLOC Squad as two entities working in the CVI space that could benefit from this new partnership. Memphis Mayor Paul Young echoed that sentiment, saying, “We are looking to change lives.”

After the press conference, several leaders went into more depth on the topic of gun violence reduction in a “Courageous Conversation” forum. While everyone in the CVI world understands words and plans only go so far, it was nonetheless a moment for hope.

“You poured a really good foundation today,” said Shantay Jackson, director of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network.

Several weeks later, the Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement acted as host for a two-day “Landscape Analysis and Convening.” Local organizations working in the CVI space participated in helping to shape a five-year strategic plan for reducing and preventing community violence.

“It is critical to have input from across the community,” said Susan Deason, executive director of Memphis Allies.

Strategy and investment matter

Also participating in the forum was Greg Jackson (no relation), who is deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Jackson pointed out that cities such as Pittsburgh and Baltimore, where similar collaborations were formed, saw substantial decreases in violence. He said violence decreased by more than 40 percent in Pittsburgh and by “double digits” in Baltimore.

He added: “It’s not where there’s the least poverty and no rap songs, it’s where there’s the best strategies and there’s an investment.”

While everyone can agree securing grant money is important, investments do not always have to be high-dollar and top-down. Valerie Matthews, who is the director of the Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, said addressing blighted properties can both make neighborhoods safer and make residents prouder of where they live.

“Just making sure we take care of our neighborhoods,” she said.

Intervention and transformation

Longstanding research has shown gun violence trends toward the exponential: one shooting, on average, leads to four more because of retaliation. Greg Jackson added that people who have been shot before, are at significant risk of being shot again, killed, or shooting someone else.

Memphis Allies has had outreach workers in the community since the spring of 2022. The SWITCH (Support with Intention to Create Hope) model has shown results, with 87% of participants in adult SWITCH programming not receiving a new gun charge while in services. The numbers are similar for those in SWITCH Youth programming.

“We welcome collaboration,” Deason said. “Memphis Allies has been adding grassroots community partners from the beginning. If this office formed by the city and county can make it easier for nonprofits to work together in the CVI space, that’s great for all concerned.”

The last word at the forum was given, appropriately, to the youth themselves. One teenager, who identified himself as Michael, said youth need all the opportunities they can get. Whether that’s jobs, volunteering, sports or in the arts.

Michael said several months ago, he brought a gun to school for protection and wound up in jail.

“I don’t want to be defined by that one mistake,” said Michael, who is back in school and working, too. “I’m proof that change is possible.”

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