MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Mayor Paul Young and other city leaders gave an opportunity for students at LeMoyne-Owen College to voice their issues and concerns as part of their first town hall college tour.
Mayor Young told the crowd of students that he would continue to fulfill his promise as a mayor by engaging in the community.
The students didn't shy away from what questions they wanted to ask during the town hall. They inquired about solutions to reducing crime, employment opportunities, blight concerns, economic development around the campus and how they can contribute to improving the city of Memphis.
Mayor Young said how impressed he was with the type of questions students had asked.
"They weren't just simple surface questions, they were asking deep questions that speak to the future of our city, that speak to how are we going to help people that are living in circumstances where they don't have enough to make it day to day," Young said.
Mayor Young stressed to the students how imperative it is for them to stay in Memphis and help with city's direction.
"Oftentimes, we write of the young generation and say they're so disengaged, and they'll start caring later. They care now," he said.
LeMoyne-Owen College student Diamond Shaw said the topic of safety and poverty hits home for him.
"I was born and raised in Binghampton, so I grew up in poverty. It was very important to talk about safety because I walked daily to walk to my bus stop just to get bussed to Richland Elementary to a whole other neighborhood," Shaw said.
Interim Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis said they are willing to integrate cameras on campus into their real-time crime center to help keep students safe.
"If you want assessments done and see how we can make your living quarters safer, we're here to do that, just reach out," she said.
Shaw said he's hoping city leaders will take into consideration their issues with making their campus and community more vibrant for the future.
"It's very important that I do see around us, I see a lot of growth; I see a lot of opportunities," Shaw said.
Mayor Young said the next college tour stop is at Rhodes College on Nov. 18 at 4:30 p.m.