An emergency town hall meeting was held in Orange Mound on Saturday to address the increasing amount of violent crime unnerving the South Memphis community.
The meeting, organized by Orange Mound Collaborative, invited community members to ask questions and share their frustrations with their elected leaders. Public officials in attendance included state Rep. G. A. Hardaway, Memphis City Councilwomen Janika White and Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, and Memphis Office of Youth Services Director Brian Harris.
The meeting was organized quickly in response to a Feb. 4 shooting that targeted a car carrying five people, three of them children. One woman died and two others, including an infant, were injured.
Director Brian Harris talked about Youth Services’ efforts to better uplift and direct the youth of Orange Mound.
“Our young people need guidance and structure,” Harris said. “One thing this office is committed to is making sure we have programs that don’t reach some, but reach all.”
Harris said his office is focusing on “Four Es:” Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Enlistment.” This includes an emphasis on tutoring and community centers, programs to train students for employment regardless of if they are going to college or not, prep for entrepreneurship or enlistment into the military.