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 with old friends—but it also offers an opportunity to learn about other Youth Villages programs.

To that end, several sessions involving Memphis Allies were enthusiastically received. Attendees asked questions and Memphis Allies staff provided answers.

Launched in 2022 with the mission to reduce gun violence in Memphis and Shelby County, Memphis Allies has grown in areas served, partnerships formed and staff hired.

Memphis Allies first began adult SWITCH services in Raleigh/Frayser, and has since expanded to Orange Mound, Hickory Hill, and South Memphis; each area has a partner implementing some aspect of SWITCH programming. Soon to be added service areas: Whitehaven, North Memphis and Binghampton. SWITCH Youth services are offered across the metro area.

Also, at a recent Memphis Allies retreat, the leadership team unveiled the Memphis Allies code:

• Impact
• Truth
• Grind
• Unity

This, too, was shared at the employee conference sessions, with Executive Director Susan Deason saying, “This code guides the principles of violence intervention.”

Key statistics were shared, including that while enrolled in SWITCH programming, 87% of participants had not picked up a new gun charge. Also, 512 people were served in SWITCH/SWITCH Youth programming and the outreach phase during FY 2023-2024.

Other leadership team members speaking about Memphis Allies’ mission were Managing Director of Operations Carl Davis; Community Relations Director Jevonte Porter; and Clinical Programs Director Brittney Ragin.

Across multiple sessions, attendees also heard from clinical therapy supervisors, outreach specialists and life coaches, and from their team leaders.

Memphis Allies is focused on reaching young people ages 12-35 most at risk for gun violence, and whether they are teenagers or adults who already have served prison time they have many things in common.

This includes gang affiliation; contact with the justice system; having recently been shot or shot at and/or had a family member or friend recently shot or shot at; and having dropped out of school and/or being unemployed.

Diamond Fairley, a clinical supervisor at the Hickory Hill office, shared some other commonalities that clearly surprised employee conference attendees.

Dedrick Sears, a SWITCH Youth team supervisor, added that when he worked at juvenile court, he would see the same faces repeatedly.

“I started calling them my nephews,” he said.

Memphis Allies and its partners are trying to interrupt these destructive cycles. That is the only way for these young people to survive and thrive, and for the community to be safer and flourish.

And yes, this means the people on the front lines don’t only work 9-to-5. The work is, and must be, 365 and 24/7.

“If we are not relentless,” Davis said, “the streets will be relentless.”

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