29-04-2025
Memphis Allies hosts conference to tackle crime and gun violence
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Allies hosted its Breakthrough Conference on Tuesday, in which local and national leaders shared ways to combat crime, at a time when Memphis has already seen nearly triple-digit homicides in 2025.
At the beginning of April, 22-year-old Matthew Williams was killed in a mass shooting in Southeast Memphis.
1 dead, 5 men injured in Southeast Memphis shooting
More specifically, it happened outside the site of Memphis Allies, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing gun violence and homicides.
'Most Memphians know violence has been a problem in our city for a while now, and in recent weeks, we have had an increase in violence, so we are bringing hope to the community,' said Susan Deason, Executive Director of Memphis Allies.
Deason says that hope looks like this: local leaders, community groups, and many more joining forces.
'It's a convening of organizations who are out there on the streets getting the work done to save lives,' she said.
It's a push that's needed now more than ever.
Already this year, detectives have been tasked with investigating 97 homicides since January 1. One of them was Williams, who was killed, with five others hurt, in a mass shooting outside the Memphis Allies headquarters.
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'We don't let the circumstances push us away from the mission because there are a whole lot of people out there who will never know our names, and we are in here fighting for them,' said Mayor Young.
'We are trying to turn a very, very, very big ship,' Young said. 'A ship that's been navigating turbulent waters for years. But this conference is focused on igniting hope in this community, in order to inspire action.'
This two-day conference will undoubtedly be jam-packed, organizers say, for those willing to carry the load and for those willing to have difficult discussions, in order to get things on a more positive path.
'I want the next two days to be about some real talk. I want us to have real conversations, because it's real out there,' said Young.
This is the third year for the Breakthrough conference, with an estimated 400 to 500 attendees expected to participate.
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