MEMPHIS, Tenn — Tina Stewart, Reverand Ernest Trice and Evelyn Spears are three neighbors in Hickory Hill seeking solutions to their community's crime problem.
Crime in Memphis continues to increase, with homicides in 2023 reaching an all-time high.
The city’s problem with violence is a concern for most Memphians and a major discussion at our recent ABC24 Let’s Talk event in Hickory Hill, which Stewart, Trice and Spears attended. The three met while working to get speed bumps on their street.
“We started collecting signatures, and this is when the neighborhood really stepped up,” Trice said.
Now, they are looking to tackle violent crimes.
“Almost every night I hear sirens. Quite often I hear gunshots. So, guys we need to do something. We need to do something to keep our community going,” Stewart said to other community members at Let’s Talk.
Stewart is bringing people with solutions to the same table.
“Feed that energy,” Spears said. “You have to take that child and put it to something that it's going to actually bite into, and not sit there and say we’re going open a community center, they’re going have basketball. Not every kid wants to go play basketball.”
The three neighbors feel like Hickory Hill is overlooked by city officials. So, they’re taking matters into their own hands.
“If we don’t have an active neighborhood watch, then let’s start one,” Stewart said.
After the holidays, Stewart, Trice and Spears plan on hosting neighbors at Stewarts home to find out what the local kids are interested in and volunteer their time to keep the kids out of trouble.
Taking a look at Mid-South crime after Memphis' homicide record breaks
Toward the end of November, it was reported that there had been 352 homicides and over 14,000 stolen cars this year alone in Memphis. MPD says repeat offenders and those younger than 18 are key players in the city's crime epidemic.
MPD also said 20% of all those charged were charged with other crimes previously.
Federal, state and local leaders all met for a closed public safety summit in September to discuss possible solutions to crime. Much of that discussion was centered around dealing with violent repeat offenders.
“We all have recognized that we have a serious crime problem," Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said following the summit. "We have a crime crisis right now and it requires an all hands on deck approach to tackle the problem.”
Mulroy said city, county and state leaders discussed the court system as well as data-sharing between departments and how to tackle some of the environmental challenges that lead to crime “hot spots.”
“Not every one of these things will be able to be done overnight," Mulroy said. "We hope we’ll be able to implement some of these things in a 6-to-18-month timeframe.”
Local efforts to reduce criminal activity as well as recidivism
In the meantime, various efforts by local groups seek to tackle the crime issue in the Mid-South — one neighborhood at a time.
A Memphis police officer is taking action as violence and juvenile crime rise by using an after-school program he founded to combat the challenges the city is facing.
"That’s our objective — to get them on the right path," said Randy Taylor, the founder of "Hope Activated."
Taylor said he founded the nonprofit because he wanted to change the behavior and mindset of Memphis’ young people.
Data from The Tennessee Department of Corrections shows that 47 percent of people released from jail across the state return to jail. That rate in Shelby County is about 37 percent.
This is why Portia Moore is trying to show former inmates that changing your mindset, changes your outcome. She founded T.R.A.P. — the Transitional Re-entry Adult Program.
"The opportunities are here they just need to come out to get a hold of them," Moore said.
Shawn Banks — recently released from federal prison after nearly 13 years — joined Moore at an event in Orange Mound, offering resources ranging from mentorship to mental health services, career development like truck driving, film production and culinary arts.
"If we collaborate, we can reduce recidivism," Moore said.
In response to the rise in youth gun violence in Memphis, a group of current and former law enforcement officers held a "Youth Cease Fire Summit" in December.
Over 160 children in Memphis were treated for gunshot wounds in 2023. This alarming record number is part of what the Memphis Shelby Police Activities League (PAL) to stay active in the community.
"One has lost a brother. One has lost a sister. One has lost a parent, so they all have been affected," Memphis Shelby PAL founder Craig Littles said. "They're here to understand how to create and understand how to relate that anger and that frustration and that loneliness."
Young Memphians ages 11 to 18 participated in the summit. There were panel discussions, breakout rooms and other activities.
Organizers said the goal was teaching children how to resolve conflict without resorting to violence.
"What students can take away from the organization is being able to make good choices — also, to have a mentor; someone they can call on, someone that can offer advice," said Memphis Shelby PAL supporter Roderick Richmond.
Those looking to get involved with and/or donate to the various groups working to reduce crime in the Memphis area can do so with these links: