Community Solutions

Decarcerate Memphis has been advancing community-led public safety solutions since 2020, growing from a volunteer-led effort into a key driver of policy reform, community education, and accountability in Memphis. Community Solutions funding supported the addition of dedicated staff capacity, enabling the organization to more consistently plan and implement programming, expand outreach, and sustain its advocacy efforts.

Through research, organizing, and direct action, Decarcerate Memphis has contributed to measurable policy and systems change. The organization played a leading role in drafting and advancing local ordinances focused on traffic stop transparency and limiting pretextual stops, helping to increase public accountability in law enforcement practices. Their research has also informed federal investigations into policing practices in Memphis, elevating local data to the national level.

In addition to policy impact, Decarcerate Memphis engages residents through ongoing community outreach, including weekly relationship-building efforts, public education, and participatory research that informs campaigns and solutions. Their work has strengthened community awareness of rights, increased civic participation, and supported efforts to reduce harmful enforcement practices that disproportionately affect Black residents.

During the grant year, Decarcerate Memphis also responded to emerging community needs by supporting Vecindarios 901, a grassroots network operating a 24-hour rapid response hotline for immigrant communities. This expansion reflects the organization’s ability to adapt resources to address urgent gaps in safety and access, while continuing to advance long-term systems change.

everystory, formerly Playback Memphis, provides arts-based programming that supports youth development, conflict resolution, and community safety across schools, diversion programs, and community-based settings. During the grant year, the organization completed a strategic transition that included a name change and a refined focus on youth empowerment and community violence intervention, alongside updates to its program model and leadership structure.

Community Solutions funding supported organizational stability during this transition, allowing everystory to continue delivering programming without interruption. The organization maintained a consistent presence in schools and youth-serving environments, reaching young people through initiatives such as Be the Peace, which focuses on social-emotional learning, conflict resolution, and violence prevention. This program has reached more than 4,500 students through partnerships with schools and community organizations.

In addition to direct youth engagement, everystory provides training and workshops that build skills in communication, empathy, and de-escalation among young people and system partners, including educators and law enforcement. These efforts contribute to safer environments, improved peer relationships, and increased capacity for conflict resolution.

Heal 901 delivers community violence intervention, youth programming, and mental health services in neighborhoods most affected by gun violence. Using an evidence-based public health approach, the organization deploys violence interrupters, outreach workers, and support services to prevent conflict, reduce retaliation, and connect residents to critical resources.

During the grant year, Heal 901 experienced a significant loss of federal funding that had supported a substantial portion of its staffing and operations. Community Solutions funding, alongside additional Foundation support, helped stabilize the organization and ensure continuity of services, including violence interruption, school-based programs, and mental health support.

Heal 901’s model has demonstrated measurable impact. At the New Horizons Apartment Complex, their community violence intervention work contributed to a 21 percent reduction in violent crime, with analysis also showing a 47 percent decrease in violent incidents during periods when Heal 901 staff were actively engaged in the community.

By maintaining consistent staffing and program delivery during a period of disruption, Heal 901 sustained its ability to prevent violence, support high-risk individuals, and strengthen safety and stability in the communities it serves.

Memphis Artists for Change (MAC) trains and supports residents to lead community-driven public safety solutions through its Community Organizing Fellowship. The program equips fellows with skills in organizing, conflict resolution, and civic engagement, enabling them to identify neighborhood priorities and implement locally driven strategies.

Community Solutions funding supported the expansion of the fellowship into North Memphis, increasing access to training for residents in additional neighborhoods. Since its launch, MAC has trained more than 50 directly impacted residents in core organizing skills and continues to engage community members through regular listening sessions and outreach.

MAC’s model translates community input into tangible outcomes, including neighborhood-based projects, increased civic participation, and resident-led advocacy on issues such as safety, infrastructure, and access to resources. Across its broader work, the organization has facilitated thousands of community listening sessions and engagements, strengthening local leadership and building capacity for sustained, community-led change.

During the grant year, MAC maintained and expanded programming despite increased community need, with fellows supporting residents in navigating local challenges and advancing community-informed solutions. These efforts contributed to stronger neighborhood engagement and increased resident participation in shaping public safety strategies.

Stand for Children Tennessee (Stand TN) used the grant to sustain and expand the Justice and Safety Alliance, a coalition of more than 20 organizations advancing community-informed public safety solutions in Memphis. Through this work, Stand TN aligns partners, supports community-driven research, and ensures residents most impacted by the justice system are engaged in shaping policy priorities.

During the grant year, Stand TN contributed to policy discussions focused on alternatives to incarceration, equitable sentencing, and increased investment in community-based safety strategies. The organization also strengthened long-term infrastructure by advancing a research collaborative and Justice Data Dashboard to improve transparency and support data-informed advocacy.

Stand TN increased public engagement and accountability through coalition campaigns and community convenings, including the Memphis Power Summit and Free the 901 campaign. In February 2026, the organization filed a lawsuit to obtain public records related to policing practices following federal findings of unconstitutional policing, reinforcing its role in advancing transparency and accountability.