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Local organization hosts annual ‘Walk 2 Reduce Recidivism'
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — People across Shelby County were wearing their orange in honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
The holiday may have been officially recognized on Friday, but organizations are taking the weekend to show the community they are committed to fighting crime.
Rain was in the forecast on Saturday morning.
While many at Shelby Farms ran to cover, one group walked for a different purpose.
The Transitional Re-entry Adult Program, also known as TRAP, hosted its second annual Walk 2 Reduce Recidivism.
CEO Portia Moore said rain was not going to stop them from showing the community that there are those willing to put in the work to make a change.
'As a whole, we're all trying to come together to make Memphis better,' Moore said.
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TRAP is an organization that supports and provides resources to individuals navigating life after incarceration.
'So, I have a job readiness and workforce development program that we focus on,' Moore said. 'Just skilling them up so that we can adjust their mindset for more of a career path.'
Two of her clients are Thaddeus Young and Nautica Moore.
Young said he was recently released from federal prison after serving more than 25 years.
'I didn't know what I was going to do when I got released. I gave up. I said I was going to the streets,' Young said. 'I said I was going to just do whatever came [my] way, but when I met Ms. Portia, she changed my life around. She changed my mindset.'
This event is just one of many events hosted in collaboration with the Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement for National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
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'We want organizations who are truly committed to public safety to come together to be more than just silos, to be a joint unit,' said Tamika Williams, the Deputy Director of the Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. 'How do we as a community make sure we are identifying the right individuals that need the support and making sure we're wrapping our arms around them?'
Moore said that she believes providing support to people released from prison can help reduce crime.
'If you don't have the employment opportunity, how can you do better,' Moor said. 'You're going to fall into the same category that you did once before because you know that you can get some type of funding or income from that.'
Young said he's thankful for the guidance and that someone believed he deserves a second chance.
'I work now. I got a job,' Young said. 'My mind strong. I got patience.'
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