In a torrent of violent crime that makes it difficult to keep count, one of the latest incidents involved a shooting at Central High School on Monday afternoon. A teenage suspect now faces attempted murder charges in the incident.
And as always, the question must be asked: How can we reach wayward youth before they make life-altering choices—or life-ending ones? How do you prevent the youth from picking up the gun in the first place?
That’s the challenge that the new Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement is tasked with tackling. Through the Safer Communities Grant program, city and county officials have awarded 39 area nonprofits more than $1 million to help steer youth away from those tragic choices.
Speaking at the grant ceremony Tuesday morning, Memphis Mayor Paul A. Young addressed the need for prevention.
“We want to make sure that we hold people accountable who commit crimes in our community,” he said. “But we also want to prevent crime. The earlier we can reach young people and show them different opportunities for success, the better.”
The nonprofits cover a broad swath of interests and goals — from urban farming to creating comics to teaching men how to be better fathers.
“What struck me was how diverse this room is, with different kinds of groups represented,” Young said. “These organizations each bring their unique strengths and perspectives to the table, and that’s what makes this effort so powerful.”
Mayor Young elaborated on how this diversity creates a holistic approach to violence prevention.
“We’re talking about organizations that have been embedded in these communities for years, addressing everything from education and mentorship to conflict resolution and trauma support,” he said. “By supporting such a wide range of strategies, we increase our chances of connecting with young people in meaningful ways and creating lasting change.”
One recipient, Abundant Earth Global CDC, aims to plant “food forests” in its Frayser service area, aiming to teach life principles through agriculture and to provide food to an area that the USDA has designated a food desert.
“Everybody’s gotta eat,” said Ester Moore, Abundant Earth executive director. “I’ve heard it said that the fed man has many problems, but the hungry man has only one. You can’t teach anybody if they can’t hear over their growling stomachs. And the healthier the food, the better.
“But it’s deeper than that, too,” she said. “There’s a sense of pride that comes with growing something from seed, nurturing it and then feeding yourself and your people off of it. There’s a lot of power in that.”
The mayor reflected on the organizations receiving the grants, many of which have long histories of serving Memphis neighborhoods.
“These organizations are out there doing the work and have been for many, many years,” he said. “Ideally, their success prevents the next negative thing from happening.”
The grants come as the city launches a broader initiative to coordinate community efforts through the Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement. The office will work with the Memphis Police Department to identify areas most affected by crime and strategically activate grant-funded organizations in those neighborhoods.
“This is about building relationships and collaboration,” Mayor Young added. “The Joint Office will provide structure and support so these organizations can align their efforts and make a bigger impact.”
As the city grapples with the devastating consequences of youth violence, the Safer Communities Grant program offers a glimmer of hope—a partnership between city leaders and grassroots organizations to reach young people before it’s too late.
