Media

Sheriff’s Office Assists SCLC Memphis Chapter In “Youth Enrichment Summit” and Steps-Up Effort to Stop Gang Graffiti

Release Date: August 2, 2006

JOINT NEWS RELEASE FROM: The Sheriff's Office and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Memphis Chapter, Annesdale Cherokee Baptist Church, along with CitiRise Redevelopment LLC Inc., government agencies and a group of business leaders are working together to once again do an “Operation Take Back” this weekend beginning with the “Youth Enrichment Summit” Friday, August 4, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and an “Anti-Graffiti Abatement” Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. until. 

The “Youth Enrichment Summit” will be held at the Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist church, Friday, August 4.  The location is 1098 S. Wellington Street.  The summit will offer presentations by the Shelby County Sheriff’s office, Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office and the Memphis Police Department about a variety of topics specifically designed to keep young people from joining gangs and criminal activity.

The “Anti-Gang Graffiti” initiative will be held at varies locations throughout the city beginning at 10:30 a.m.  The locations are listed below:

• 5815 Hickory Commons
• 3650 Hickory Hill (The old Mega Market store)
• 912 Wellington (side of store)
• 333 Danny Thomas
• 3439 N. Watkins
• 3631 N. Watkins
• 2590 Frayser (rear of Beauty Store/Shopping Center at Hollywood and Frayser)
• 2393 Lisa (on the street pavement)
• 2270 Chelsea (side of business)
• 1276 Jackson (side)
• 1300 Jackson (side)
• 3975 Jackson
• 3957 Jackson (side)
• 3795 Jackson (side & rear)
• 3637 Hazelwood (side fences & across the street)
• 1472 National (rear & directly across the street)

Until recently, these places had been the target of vandals who painted gang symbols on or around these properties.  Not only will gang markings be painted over, but youth volunteers will be needed to pick up litter in the area with materials provided by the Memphis City Beautiful Commission.

A couple of weeks ago, members of the SCLC Memphis Chapter and others from Annesdale Cherokee Baptist Church, businesses and government agencies  painted over the symbols at another location to show their concern over the growing problem of gang crime in the community.

Interest generated from the “Anti Graffiti” initiative led to the idea for the summit for youth.  Additionally the effort to eliminate gang graffiti has generated a commitment by the Conwood Corporation of Memphis to help underwrite the costs to remove gang symbols and to advertise positive messages to young people on billboards throughout the Memphis area.

For more information about the summit and the continuing “Anti Graffiti” effort, contact Dr. Dwight Montgomery at 948-7915.

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