Memphis Allies Stories

Memphis Mayor Paul Young recently visited the Hickory Hill office to express his support for the daily gun violence intervention work being done by Memphis Allies' frontline staff.

Mayor Young’s Message to Memphis Allies Staff

by Memphis Allies | Aug 6, 2025 | Memphis Allies, Spotlight

Memphis Mayor Paul Young recently visited the Hickory Hill office to express his support for the daily gun violence intervention work being done by Memphis Allies’ frontline staff

Mayor Young shares message with Memphis Allies front-line staff

In the aftermath of the April 9 drive-by shooting at Memphis Allies’ Hickory Hill site, there was an outpouring of support from the community. This started with Memphis Mayor Paul Young, who called within minutes to express his concern.

Memphis Allies participant Matthew Williams lost his life in the shooting, and several other people were injured. Recently, Mayor Young was kind enough to visit Memphis Allies staff at the Hickory Hill site. As the mayor spoke, he made clear that the men and women standing in the gap each day—working tirelessly to reduce gun violence—are not taken for granted.

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The city is with you guys. We are partners in this work. You all are deeply, deeply, deeply appreciated. The work you’re doing is game-changing.

– Mayor Young

Memphis Mayor

“It was very heartbreaking to hear that kind of incident came to the doorstep of an organization working to do so much good, but it also reaffirmed the work,” Mayor Young said. “The city is with you guys. We are partners in this work. You all are deeply, deeply, deeply appreciated. The work you’re doing is game-changing.”

Memphis Allies first put outreach specialists on the streets in Raleigh-Frayser late in the spring of 2022. In the first six months of programming, Memphis Allies reached about 50 people per day. That has grown to more than 500 per day.

Youth Villages board chairman Mike Bruns greets Memphis Mayor Paul Young during his visit to the Hickory Hill office. Also pictured: Former Memphis and Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton and Memphis Allies Executive Director Susan Deason.

Today, Memphis Allies serves Hickory Hill, Orange Mound, South Memphis and Whitehaven. By the end of the calendar year, adult SWITCH programming should also be in Binghampton and North Memphis. SWITCH Youth is available citywide.

Memphis Allies looks forward to continued partnership with Mayor Young and his team in the mission to reduce gun violence and make the city safer and healthier for all.

“As we ramp up to reaching 1,000 people per day, we’re going to need the partnership with the city,” said Susan Deason, Memphis Allies’ executive director.