MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis city leaders are continuing their efforts to reduce violence in the city.
On Tuesday, city officials announced they were allocating $1 million through the Safer Communities Grant.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young said the 39 organizations that were award recipients are dedicated to fighting crime.
Combating crime has been a challenge in the City of Memphis; however, city officials are focused on figuring it out by funding organizations who are making a difference in their communities and keeping Memphians safer.
"Many of these organizations have been working for years in our community and have had limited resources, so it's just a small token of what we know we can do together if we're working on all ends of the public safety spectrum," Young said.
Pastor Ricky Floyd with The Husband Institute was one of the award recipients. His mentoring program is created for boys between nine and 17 years old.
"40 percent have parents that [are dead], some have parents who are going through addictions, homeless issues, and we're able to employ these young boys, teach these young boys," Floyd said.
Floyd said, without the resources provided by the City of Memphis through this grant, organizations like The Husband Institute can't do their part to help the city’s youth and hopefully prevent crime.
"Every moment that we have them in the church, in these businesses, in these mentoring rooms, means that they're not in the street, means that gangs and addicts don't have access to them," he said.
Keeping Memphians safe also includes the most vulnerable population. The Memphis Police Department on Wednesday showed residents at Lucille McWherter Senior Center how they can keep away from criminals by being self-aware.
Patricia Parker, a resident at Lucille McWherter Senior Center, told ABC24 what she learned at the forum.
"I learned what to look for if you're out by yourself walking, how to determine an individual to take their height or what they're wearing, and if they look suspicious," Parker said.
Parker said she hopes to pass the information she learned along to church members to keep them safe as well.