Stand for Children - Tennessee

This Saturday at 12:00! Join the Moral Budget Coalition at the Hudson Transit Center to share your thoughts and ideas for how to improve MATA’s services.

Learn more about the Moral Budget Coalition here: https://901moralbudget.org

Still time to register for the JSA’s conversation with Judge Sugarmon tonight at 6:00!

REGISTER: bit.ly/quest4justice4

Another approach to diversion and crime prevention coming from the city’s Office of Youth Services:

“[The Office’s] most well-known program is likely MPLOY — a six-week summer jobs program where youth, ages 16-22, are placed in local businesses and organizations — but it also has a hand in over a dozen other programs, including Youth City Council and “I AM INCLUDED,” a program for children with disabilities.

Since assuming his role, [Brian] Harris has added even more programs to the office. He’s created mentorship programs that operate out of seven different community centers (Whitehaven, Ed Rice, McFarland, Bert Ferguson, Glenview, Orange Mound, and Cunningham) and a program called “Elevate 901,” which takes children in some of Memphis’ poorest neighborhoods on field trips to parks, museums, government buildings and local businesses.”

Brian Harris wants to show Memphis’ youth what opportunity looks like Photo illustration by Andrea Morales for MLK50. Source photo courtesy the Memphis Office of Youth Services. In the first week of August, Brian Harris’ office was littered with cardboard boxes. A gi…

Join the Justice & Safety Alliance tomorrow and learn how youth justice is directly tied to community safety from Judge Tarik Sugarmon!

REGISTER: bit.ly/quest4justice4

This innovative program gives young people with misdemeanors a second chance, while also helping them and other youth find their passion in fairness and restorative justice!

Youth court gives kids a second chance The program operates on restorative justice principles, so sentences range from community service to restitution to even writing apology letters to parents.

Reliable public transit is key to a safe, healthy, thriving Memphis. Join the Moral Budget Coalition at the Hudson Transit Center this Saturday to share your concerns and ideas for improving MATA!

Learn more about the Moral Budget Coalition here: https://901moralbudget.org

The Healed People Heal People campaign kickoff was a powerful two-day event, full of stories, resources, and important conversations about the true meaning of public safety. Thank you Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and Mothers Over Murder for all your work amplifying these resources for victims.

Shout out to our Power Fellows and our Government Affairs Director Aerris Newton who joined the panels and attended the event!

Come see us at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library and get your free copy of the Shelby County A to Z book until 3:00 today!

Stop by the Benjamin Hooks Library on Poplar tomorrow to grab your free copy of the Shelby County A to Z Book for early readers!

RSVP: bit.ly/ShelbyAtoZexpo

And if you missed us on Live at 9 last week, check it out here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlOh3ag48Bo

This statewide campaign kicks off tomorrow in Memphis! New legislation expands access to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund for victims and survivors of crime. Tomorrow is reserved for people who are trying to apply for the Fund, and Saturday is open to the wider public.

Register: bit.ly/HealPeople901

Contrary to what some politicians and news stories would have us believe, this report reveals that youth arrests and incarceration have DECREASED substantially in the past 20 years! Imagine the possibilities and opportunities that would open up for our young people if we used this data to pass and implement policies that kept this promising trend going.

FULL REPORT:
https://www.sentencingproject.org/policy-brief/youth-justice-by-the-numbers/



Key takeaways:

Between 2000-2022, there has been a 75% decline in youth incarceration. However, racial and ethnic disparities in youth incarceration and sentencing persist despite overall decrease in youth offending.

Youth of color are much more likely than white youth to be held in juvenile facilities. In 2021, Black youth were 4.7 times as likely to be incarcerated; Tribal youth were 3.7 times as likely; and Latino youth were 16% as likely than white youth to be incarcerated. Asian youth were the least likely to be held in juvenile facilities.

White youth are more likely to be diverted from formal court involvement. And when convicted, white youth are more likely to receive probation or informal sanctions, whereas Black youth are more likely to be incarcerated.

The arrest rate for people under 18 years old has declined 80% through 2020, since peaking in 1996.

Juvenile placement rates vary widely among states. The highest is Wyoming, where 269 out of 100,000 youth are in placement; the lowest is Vermont, where 0 out of 100,000 youth are held.

Between 1997 and 2022, there was an 84% drop in the number of youth held in adult jails and prisons.

Youth incarceration damages adolescents’ well being on multiple dimensions. There are far more effective alternatives to incarceration that achieve lower recidivism and lead to positive lifetime outcomes. However, we must address the racial and ethnic disparities that persist in the youth justice system.

Which MATA services are important to you? What improvements could make our transit system work better for you and your community?

Share your input with MATA leaders tonight at the MATA Community Meeting at Raleigh Library, hosted by the Moral Budget Coalition!

Learn more about the Moral Budget Coalition and sign on to show your support for investing in people and communities here: https://901moralbudget.org/

Victims and survivors of violent crime face many barriers when trying to access the state's Victim Compensation Fund, and one of the biggest hurdles is awareness. Read about new legislation that expands access to the fund, and come out to the event to connect and learn more at Centenary this Friday and Saturday!

Advocates want to expand awareness of victim-compensation fund Rafiah Muhammad-McCormick hopes an expansion of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act will make the process easier for victims and their families.

This Friday and Saturday! Come out to learn more about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund and why supporting victims is a key part of public safety. Register: bit.ly/HealPeople901

Day 1 (Fri. August 16) is only open to victims and their advocates, and Day 2 (Sat. August 17) is open to all.

Sen. Taylor and Rep. Gillespie tried their best to overturn the will of the people and upend democracy, but now the NAACP Legal Defense Fund argues that their new state law that blocks local governments from setting policies for police departments can't be applied retroactively!

If the NAACP's argument holds, that means that Taylor and Gillespie's law WOULD NOT apply to the Memphis policing ordinances that we worked so hard to pass to help prevent more needless police killings like Tyre Nichols.

It bears repeating -- Eads resident Sen. Brent Taylor is out of touch with the people of Memphis and is actively trying to target us for his own political gain.

Memphis faces opposing opinions on legality of ordinance banning pretextual traffic stops In a letter sent to Mayor Paul Young, the NAACP argued the state law barring localities from limiting police traffic stops does not apply to Memphis.

Catch our ED Cardell Orrin on Live at 9 talking about the Shelby County A to Z book for early readers!

Get your copy of the book at the upcoming Expo on August 17th from 11 am -3 pm at the Benjamin Hooks Library: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shelby-county-a-to-z-community-expo-tickets-882670259507

New 'Shelby County A to Z' book sparks young minds Shelby County Deputy Administrator for Community Partnerships Janet Lo, Stand for Children Executive Director Cardell Orrin and Kifani Press Founder April Fo...

Thanks to new legislation, more survivors of violence can now access The TN Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund to receive the help they need to begin to heal. Learn more at the Healed People Heal People campaign, kicking off in Memphis on August 16-17! Day 1 is reserved for victims and their advocates, and Day 2 is open to the wider public.

Sign up: https://tnhealpeoplecampaign.org/

Eads resident Sen. Brent Taylor's calls for ousting our democratically elected DA are rooted in misinformation and his own political motivations.

Thanks to The Commercial Appeal for re-publishing this important MLK50 article, to Katherine Sue Burgess for your thorough reporting, and to Mark Russell for upholding integrity in journalism and refusing to give in to Sen. Taylor's bullying.

State Sen. Brent Taylor is seeking to oust DA Mulroy. The move is rooted in misinformation Sen. Taylor's criticisms are often broad, and those examples that are specific — such as Mulroy not prosecuting drag shows — often lack in context.

TONIGHT - join the momentum! With all the fresh energy on the School Board, we're excited to strategize how to work for education equity with our new Board! Register: bit.ly/mm-August-2024

Read more about the new board members' visions for MSCS: https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2024/08/02/memphis-shelby-county-school-board-election-winners-answer-questions/

And take a look at five big things we're watching in the new school year: https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2024/08/05/what-to-watch-for-in-the-new-year-mscs-back-to-school-2024/

Sending a BIG congratulations to our endorsed candidates who won their races last night! Tami Sawyer, Natalie McKinney, and Stephanie Love all made it across the finish line thanks to their hard-fought campaigns, and thanks to all of YOU who supported and voted for them!

We also want to congratulate our three other new Board Members. Tamarques Porter, Sable Otey, and Towanna Murphy, we're looking forward to working with you towards education equity and student success over the coming years!

To our endorsed candidates who didn't win, thank you for your service and dedication to MSCS.

We're keeping the momentum going with our next Momentum Memphis meeting on Monday - join us to help strategize how we'll work with our new Board over the coming school year! bit.ly/mm-August-2024

When we all vote, we have the power to shape the present AND the future for generations to come. Help us get out the vote at our press conference tomorrow (Wednesday)!

Election Day is this Thursday, August 1, and polls will be open from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. Some polling locations changed with the last redistricting, make sure you know where to go: bit.ly/findpoll901

As our young people are heading back to school, we're heading back to advocacy! Join the Momentum at Crosstown next Monday! bit.ly/mm-August-2024

And now for a quick break from your regularly scheduled reminders to vote... catch us the week of August 12 on WMC Channel 5's Bluff City Life! The Shelby County A to Z book is out, and our early readers are already learning about the alphabet in the context of the beautiful place we call home!

Learn more about the book and its educational resources: https://shelbycountyatoz.com/

Huge thank you to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, County Community Services, Literacy Mid-South, and Kifani Press for your partnership in bringing this book to life!

Let's go, Natalie McKinney! Early voting ends Saturday, July 27, schedule and locations here: bit.ly/901EarlyVote

And Election Day is Thursday, August 1! Find your specific polling location here: bit.ly/findpoll901

Natalie McKinney for MSCS District 2 | Fight For Memphis Natalie McKinney has the trusted experience and policy expertise we need to put MSCS back on the right track. She knows it's time for a change, and she's ready on day one to bring transparency, integrity, and community voice into the School Board's decision-making. 

Tune in for the JSA's Quest for Justice Thursday 7/25 at 6:00 pm! Rafiah Muhammad-McCormick from Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty will explain how supporting victims is a key step towards justice for all.

REGISTER:

JSA Quest for Justice Ed Series-Justice · Memphis For All Join us for JSA Quest for Justice Interactive Ed Web Series Episode 3: Healed People Heal People This monthly community-driven webinar is dedicated to Justice, Safety, and Wellness. This series aims to transform mindsets as we work to shift paradigms within our community, fostering a more holistic a...

Early voting ends in 3 days - Let's keep Mauricio Calvo on the School Board in District 5! Check out the rest of our endorsements here: https://bit.ly/StandEndorsements2024

We want to take a step away from this busy season to honor the life of our colleague, change partner, and friend, Chelsea Glass. With her passing, Memphis has lost a true force for justice. Throughout the years, Chelsea tirelessly fought for the rights and dignity for ALL, and she was always up to some form of good trouble during both sickness and health.

We were so lucky to have worked with and gotten to know Chelsea, and Memphis was lucky to have her bright light that was cut too short. Thank you Chelsea, for all the lives you’ve touched and for everything you’ve done to make Memphis and Shelby County a brighter place for us all.

We’re sending love, light, and peace to her family and loved ones, and you can continue to support her family through the GoFundMe:

Donate to Help Memphis Community Organizer Get New Lungs, organized by Alex Hensley To know Chelsea is to know her as an incredible mother, fearless organizer… Alex Hensley needs your support for Help Memphis Community Organizer Get New Lungs