MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Finding solutions to violence in the city of Memphis has seemed like an uphill battle. Still, as more people hold forums and summits that bring people of different backgrounds together, leaders have been able to get even more ideas to move the 901 in the right direction.
This is what took place as dozens of people visited the Memphis Islamic Center Saturday learning about city-led plans to curb crime in Memphis.
“It’s going to take the whole community to change what we’re seeing,” mayor Paul Young said.
Mayor Young and Councilwoman Pearl Eva Walker were some of the summit’s panelists. Walker talked about a concern brought up time and time again.
“One of the topics that continues to come up is parenting,” Walker said. “The community needs information. The community is looking for answers.”
These are answers some community members find by listening to the young people they serve. Toria Brown is a manager of The Pursuit Center. The center works with boys 14-17 years old who’ve been through the justice system and want better for their future.
“As adults we think like 'oh yeah, we have the solution, we know what we’re trying to do,'” Brown said. “But it’s imperative that we actually listen to the youth, because they are the ones that are involved in whatever is going on.”
A few guys from the pursuit center even got to sit in on the summit with advisor Carson Knowlton.
“I think that encouraged them because they see that there’s leadership and community leaders out in the background trying to figure out ways on how we can help them,” Knowlton said. “Letting them know that there’s leaders out there trying to figure out ways to create programs and create initiatives to help them become better than what they are.”
This youth violence summit was part of a Black History Month initiative, but only the beginning of working to turn the city’s crime problem around.
Mayor Young also hinted at some new programs his office is working on to keep young people out of trouble and on the right path.
Some of those programs include using initiative from other cities to get young people involved in the community as well as increasing federal funding to improve public safety.