Groundwork: Mission Critical
The sight of the National Guard on Memphis streets is meant to send one clear message: be afraid. Fear makes us reactive. Fear drains our energy in battles we cannot win. But rather than drown in panic, this is the moment for philanthropy to buy a path forward.
That path begins with a truth the headlines miss. Memphis is not incidental. It is essential. Billion-dollar opportunities are growing here — Ford’s Blue Oval, FedEx’s global operations, AutoZone’s headquarters and now a supercomputer said to be one of the most powerful in the world. These investments tell a story the images of armed troops may hide: Investors envision Memphis as potentially central to the nation’s economy and its future.
That makes what happens in our neighborhoods more urgent than ever. While we work to ensure young people are not unjustly swept up by the National Guard, we must also ensure they have a fair chance of seizing the opportunities ahead. Protecting their safety today without securing their place in the future does both them and Memphis a disservice.
Philanthropists must view nonprofits as the infrastructure of a thriving community. Buying a path forward in today’s climate means investing now in organizations like JIFF (Juvenile Intervention & Faith-Based Follow-Up), securing their programs, anchoring their operations and amplifying their reach. It means making sure that as wealth flows into Memphis, historically underinvested communities share in the profit.
A model of intervention
Chris Yancy, who became executive director of JIFF in February, has made it his mission to move faster than fear.
“JIFF’s mission is to break the destructive cycle of juvenile crime through Christ-centered intervention,” Yancy said. “Historically, JIFF has received most of our youth through juvenile court referrals. That got me thinking about how we could possibly move the needle even more if we were to intervene and mentor these youth before they become a part of the juvenile justice system?”
The expected deployment of troops has only heightened that urgency. “The National Guard deployment is inevitable and requires a sense of urgency, and our strategy should reflect that,” Yancy said.
“We should be connecting more with school counselors, social workers and truancy officers. Churches have deep roots in the community and can be powerful allies for us. Neighborhood associations and community leaders have their fingers on the pulse of neighborhoods,” he added. “Volunteer programs like our Live Life Together (LLT) program effectively match youth with adults that offer much needed guidance. We also need to continue building collaborations with local businesses and partnerships with other youth-focused nonprofits.”
From prevention to partnership
Yancy argues that prevention is more powerful than detention. “While detention alternatives for youth who are already in the system are a vast improvement over secure confinement, the most effective strategy is to reach our youth before they ever have contact with the juvenile justice system,” he said. “Detention can be a traumatic experience. Interventions that keep youth out of detention centers altogether are less likely to intensify existing trauma and more likely to promote healthy development.”
That vision includes formal diversion protocols — officers referring youth who commit low-level offenses to JIFF instead of arresting them, and memorandums of understanding with schools so teachers and counselors can formally refer struggling students.
The approach has already shown results. JIFF reports a 65 percent success rate for youth who complete its case mentoring program.
“Engaging in drumming circles with Dr. Gregory Washington with the Center for the Advancement of Youth Development at the University of Memphis or engaging in art therapy sessions with the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art have helped open new opportunities for our youth,” Yancy explains. “The more meaningful and stimulating partnerships that we nurture, the more opportunities for growth in our youth.”
If organizations doing work like JIFF were well resourced according to Yancy, “There wouldn’t be any reason that anyone could give for the National Guard to be deployed in my hometown. With more resources services could be more accessible to a larger number of youth in different neighborhoods including those in rural areas. Investing in preventative approaches saves money, reduces harm and sets young people on a path that leads to long-term success.”
Philanthropy’s choice
Troops may walk the streets, but Memphis’s future depends on who walks beside its children. Pairing investments in plants, data centers and logistics hubs with investments in nonprofits like JIFF ensures Memphians are not left out of the prosperity developing in their own backyard. Philanthropy can choose to lead Memphis down a path that includes intentional investments in the future – investments that safeguard our youth, offer them transformative resources and ensure every child is positioned to seize the opportunities ahead.
For more information about JIFF, visit www.jiffyouth.org.
Judith Black Moore is a nonprofit strategist and co-founder of the Tarik Black Foundation. She coaches leaders to build stronger, more impactful organizations.
