The Real Talk: Youth Violence forum scheduled for tonight at the Benjamin Hooks Library has been canceled due to the snow. It had previously been rescheduled from January 20th due to inclement weather.
Rather than attempt to reschedule again, the event’s organizers are moving the forum online. Click here to take a quick survey asking for your thoughts on how to prevent youth violence. The survey will remain open until February 20th, when the input will used to develop a city/county youth violence reduction plan.
In October, Memphis and five other U.S. cities were chosen to participate in President Barack Obama’s National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, which is being conducted by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education.
Since then, the city has formed the Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Policy Council with representatives from more than 20 public and private agencies. The group’s goal is to reduce youth and gang violence while increasing opportunities for youths.
Other cities chosen to participate in the president’s program include Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and Salinas and San Jose, Calif.
“The cities weren’t selected by the size of the problem, but by their willingness to work with the federal government and other factors,” Mary Cashiola, the city’s brand manager, said in an e-mail. “I think our factors were scalability and the collaborations with Operation Safe Community and the business community.”
