MARCH 2013, VOLUME 3, NUMBER 2
 

IN THIS ISSUE 

Community-based Primary Prevention: 

LISC at Work 

Youth Spotlight: Memphis Youth Run StandOut Social Media Campaign to End Gun 

Violence 

City of Memphis Mourns Loss of Peggie 

Russell, Director of Memphis Gun Down 

Initiative 

Updates 

Forum Feature: Camden 

News & Views 

• Journal articles 

• Reports 

• News 

• Other resources 

Announcements & Upcoming Events 

• Training opportunities 

• Funding opportunities 

COMMUNITY-BASED
 PRIMARY PREVENTION
 LISC AT WORK 

During the Forum site call on April 2, a 

representative from the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC) briefly spoke 

about the need for primary prevention, which 

entails implementing strategies before the first 

incident of violence occurs. Primary 

prevention can be directed at individuals, 

families, and also communities. 

Because efforts at the community level are 

often difficult to implement successfully –and 

very difficult to measure in terms of positive 

outcomes—often efforts in this area lag behind 

FORUM FEATURE: 

CAMDEN 

At Camden City Hall, eight poignant words loom large and 

hopeful on the building's south face: "In a dream I saw a city 

invincible." The line, taken from Walt Whitman's poem "I 

Dream'd in a Dream," has become Camden's unofficial motto 

and to many, holds more meaning than the media's grim 

depiction of the city. 

Before Camden can be revived, the city must address its 

serious struggle with crime and poverty—and it will be no 

easy task. It's hard to ignore the statistics: among a 

population of 77,344, last year's 266 shootings and 67 

homicides were record-breaking numbers. 

Still, there's something to be said about Camden's resilience. 

Evidence-based programs and social services continue to be 

a regional forté, and a nearly doubled police force will mean 

better protection for residents. Mayor Dana Redd has been 

one of the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention's 

fiercest proponents, and she's backed by leadership at the 

New Jersey Attorney General's Office, Board of Education, 

Camden Police Department, and Center for Family Services. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

efforts to help individuals and families. And 

yet, it's clear that individuals and families live 

in communities that have direct impacts on 

them. 

One organization that is working to help 

communities in ways that support the idea of 

primary prevention is the Local Initiatives 

Support Corporation (LISC). LISC focuses on 

helping community inhabitants transform 

distressed neighborhoods. The goal is to 

develop safe, healthy, and sustainable 

communities where people choose to live. 

LISC does this by bringing together corporate, 

government and philanthropic support to work 

with community residents and organizations. 

LISC ensures that financing is available, that 

efforts are supported by policy, and that 

technical assistance and training are 

available. 

Since one of the planks of every Forum city's 

strategic plan is prevention, LISC is a terrific 

resource to tap for help in building sustainable 

and healthy communities in the ten Forum 

sites. LISC has the advantage of being a 

national organization with local ties in 

numerous cities. Because program staff are 

located "on the ground," they know the local 

landscape and can help identify priorities and 

challenges for localities. 

Julia Ryan, Director of LISC's Community 

Safety Initiative, stated that "there are many 

factors that give rise to youth crime and 

violence, but we know that "place" and the 

conditions of communities are important in 

determining collective resilience. LISC and its 

partners and communities can change the 

physical and social fabric of neighborhoods." 

LISC offers a tremendous number of 

resources on their Web site, including 

downloadable publications, such as case 

studies, trade articles, policy briefs, in-depth 

papers, and best practices. Their Community 

Safety Resource Library also offers links to 

other resources related to community 

developers' contributions to safety, as well as 

access to past Experts Online webcasts. 

You can search for a local office in your area 

or contact Julia Ryan, director of LISC's 

Community Safety Initiative, in the national 

office in New York. For further information, 

contact Ms. Ryan at (212) 455-1618 or by 

email at jryan@lisc.org 

Their strategic plan for the Forum is rooted in research, 

informed by data, and calls upon community resources and 

assets. Through coalitions and policy initiatives, residents 

have a real say when it comes to education, safety, and 

sustainability. In an email to Development Services Group, 

Inc., Robert Corrales, Communications Director at City of 

Camden, said the goal is to put power back into residents' 

hands. "Participating in our Congress of Resident and 

Community Based Organizations is not about any individual 

person or organization. It is about giving power and a voice to 

the people, the residents of our city, to change the physical 

and social conditions of their communities from the 

grassroots level." 

Over the past few years, Camden has had an opportunity 

seen by few other cities—a chance to start over. This April, 

as a once-dwindling police department gets absorbed by a 

regional force, 200 more officers will join the fight against 

crime and drugs. If the new department expands to 

neighboring townships, partnerships for more robust police 

services could help decrease overhead and boost efficiency. 

Mayor Redd, who sought federal and state funding to boost 

local programs while tightening Camden's municipal budget, 

said the move will result in a $7 million savings. More than 

half of Camden's properties are tax exempt; state aid 

provides nearly 70 percent of the city's budget. 

For many of the city's police, Camden's recovery has become 

a personal issue. In March, Rock Center with Brian Williams 

interviewed Police Chief J. Scott Thomson. "What keeps me 

going is the connection I have with the people who live here," 

he said. Thomson is referring to residents like Chrissy 

Rodriguez, a mom newly single after her husband was killed 

in a drug-related shooting. When asked if she sees a better 

world for Camden and her family, Chrissy said she will "make 

it happen." Her resolve is inspiring to those outside the city 

limits who have heard and watched her story, but for locals 

it's just another example of Camden's everyday resolve. 

Although the city is determined to hone its law enforcement 

operation, Camden will need more than crime control to 

bounce back. Officials are calling for more social services, 

community programs, and commercial growth. Just across 

the Delaware River, business in Philadelphia is booming. But 

companies have been hesitant to set up shop in Camden. 

That may be about to change. Under a bill signed by 

Governor Chris Christie, the 16-acre waterfront site of 

Riverfront State Prison will be auctioned off by the New 

Jersey Economic Development Authority for commercial or 

residential development. A big employer here is Campbell's 

Soup, who recently expanded its headquarters. Riverfront 

shops and attractions also provide much-needed business 

infrastructure. 

Rowan University's Cooper Medical School, an expansion of 

Cooper University Hospital, has recharged educational and 

economic potential to compete with Philadelphia's medical 

centers. The area south of Cooper University Hospital and 

the new medical school is becoming one of Camden's most 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YOUTH 

SPOTLIGHT
 

Memphis Youth Run Stand-Out Social

Media Campaign to End Gun Violence 

Memphis is one of the Forum's six initial 

participating cities. "In 2006, Memphis had the 

second highest violent crime rate in the 

country," according to the Memphis Youth 

Violence Prevention Plan. Although "January 

2011 saw Memphis' lowest murder rate in 30 

years," the plan notes that "youth violence is 

on the rise. In 2009, more than 54 percent 

(1,462) of those arrested for committing a 

violent crime were 24 years of age or younger 

—with offenders as young as nine years old." 

"If adults can't reach the youth to stop gun 

violence, then the youth will," stated 17-yearold Kevin Jones, Frayser Youth Council 

Executive Board Member. He and Jada 

Cowan, Frayser Youth Council President, are 

among the young people ages 15 to 19 who 

said "yes!" when offered the opportunity to run 

the youth social media campaign for Memphis 

Gun Down (www.memphisgundown.org), 

Mayor A C Wharton's five-part plan to address 

gun violence. Adult oversight is provided by 

Kingdom Quality Communications, Inc., the 

marketing firm that coordinates the overall 

Memphis Gun Down campaign in 

collaboration with Clear Channel 

Communications, Inc. 

Mayor A C Wharton and the Memphis Gun Down Youth 

Social Media Team 

The youth social media campaign is a core 

aspect of Memphis Gun Down's public 

education and awareness campaign, which 

promising spots for development, and new low-income 

housing is in the works for Lanning and Bergen Square. 

Currently, there is $26.1 million in federal Neighborhood 

Stabilization Program 2 funding for housing demolition, 

rehabilitation, new construction, and greening of vacant lots. 

Robert explained the goals of the Choice Neighborhoods 

Initiative, which aims to "support comprehensive 

neighborhood revitalization by using the redevelopment of 

distressed public housing as a catalyst for neighborhood-wide 

transformation." The planning area for the Mt. Ephraim 

Corridor Choice Neighborhoods spans about 1 square mile 

and includes the Liberty Park, Centerville, and Whitman Park 

neighborhoods—home to more than 12,000 people. 

According to Robert, the transformation plan will target 

community needs in three core areas: 

Housing. Transforming severely distressed public 

and/or assisted housing into energy-efficient, mixedincome, and affordable housing 

People. Ensure families within the targeted 

developments and surrounding area have opportunities 

for improved health, safety, employment, and education 

Neighborhood. Transform poor neighborhoods into 

viable, safe, and well-functioning communities with 

access to high-quality public schools, services, public 

assets, and transportation 

Recreational and community centers have become hubs and 

hideaways for Camden's children. At the Youth Education 

and Employment Success Centers (YE2S), kids are 

counseled, trained, and even placed in jobs when the time is 

right. YE2S is part of the Rutgers Transitional Education and 

Employment Management Gateway that offers education and 

employment assistance, juvenile mentoring, and support 

services to city youth. The I Can End Truancy (ICE-T) 

program, an initiative that provided some 70 high school 

students with a $100 apiece stipend to participate in a 

student development course and attend class, successfully 

brought 66 students to school and facilitated conflictresolution and anger-management workshops in 2012. Teens 

involved in the School Based Youth Services Program can 

enroll in a 10-week job readiness training course, learn about 

healthy relationship building and sexual responsibility, and 

develop the leadership skills necessary to get ahead in viable 

fields. One of the city's longest-running programs brings 

young girls together at the water tower between Louis and 

Everett Streets, where 25-year volunteer Tawanda Jones 

heads the Camden Sophisticated Sisters (CSS) Drill 

Team. The girls practice 4 days a week, year round, and are 

required to keep a C average. CSS's success is undeniable: 

everyone who has participated has graduated from high 

school, and many have gone on to college. But space is at a 

premium in the tower and program, with Tawanda turning 

away 300 applicants each year. 

The Youth Forum, Camden's version of Youth Court, teaches 

kids that their actions have consequences. "The main goal is 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

also includes Web engagement and 

community action. 

The 20 youths on the Mayor's Youth Social 

Media Team write attention-getting and 

thought-provoking messages geared to young 

people about stopping gun violence. They also 

manage the Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and 

Instagram accounts they use to spread the 

word. 

The team finds other effective ways of 

communicating with their peers, too. Frayser 

Youth Council members collaborated with 

youths from the Leadership Empowerment 

Center (LEC), a faith-based nonprofit in 

Memphis, to create the rap song "Gundown" 

(https://soundcloud.com/lec38127). 

"We wanted the song to be catchy, realistic," 

said Jada. The lyrics are a powerful appeal to 

stop gun violence: 

"We shooting like Vietnam//Everybody got a 

pistol, everybody armed//Somebody died 

today a daughter or a son//In a white casket, 

and he was only one//The neighborhood 

mourning, you should've seen his mom//And 

what make it real homie, that could've been 

your mom//See it's time for us to think before 

we get the gun//Once you pull the trigger, oh 

what's done is done//Can't bring it back, It's 

none of that//Can't do a play over like a 

quarterback//It's time for us to wake up, and 

go put it back ..." 

As Kevin remarked, "we are speaking in a way 

that kids get the message." 

"Gundown" will receive its official début when 

the Youth Social Media Team performs it April 

12 at a youth empowerment event in 

Westwood. This Memphis hotspot has been 

the site of many killings. The event will bring 

together an estimated 500 youths, families, 

city officials, and other stakeholders 

representing schools, law enforcement, the 

faith community, and businesses. 

The youths also will showcase "Gundown" at a 

block party April 13 in Frayser that is expected 

to attract about 500 youths, families, and other 

community members. This "Gundown" 

performance will be especially timely—A 17-

year old shot another 17-year old to death in 

Frayser March 22 during school hours. 

LEC youths and the Frayser Youth Council will 

work together to craft a dissemination strategy 

to reduce truancy and dropout rates to improve the high 

school graduation rate," said Robert. "The hope is that the 

program will change the lives of students by setting them on 

a positive course and providing valuable opportunities ...

training them how to be leaders, how to work as part of a 

group, and exposing them to positive college and career 

opportunities and role models." Likewise, the Brilliance 

Readiness Program was designed to provide kids with tools 

for success. "The objective," said Robert, "was to meet 

youths where they are, address their current needs, and 

prepare them to meet subsequent challenges successfully." 

The city's greatest challenges, at least where the Forum is 

concerned, are youth truancy and security. Youths make up 

roughly one third of Camden's population and account for the 

nation's highest percentage of single-parent households. 

Although the newly expanded police force can help the 

cause, escorting kids on the streets back to school is a drain 

on time and resources, and there's no guarantee the kids will 

stay put. The issue goes beyond intervention and correction 

—it's about accountability and prevention. 

Camden operates 26 schools in all—23 of which are 

designated as failing. Magnet and charter schools are faring 

better and the five-school campus of KIPP Cooper Norcross 

Academy is an in-the-works renaissance school that 

guarantees enrollment for all children in the catchment area. 

Without a doubt, Camden residents are struggling to make 

life in this city work. That's not to say they've resigned—quite 

the contrary. Camden's impenetrable will, perseverance, and 

dedication are only getting stronger. 

NEWS & 

VIEWS 

Journal Articles 

Violent Video Games, Delinquency, and Youth Violence 

Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 2013 

Exposure to media violence has been linked to aggressive 

behavior, desensitization to violence, and delinquency. This 

study correlated video game violence and real-world violence 

among juvenile offenders after controlling for several 

variables. 

http://yvj.sagepub.com/content/11/2/132.short 

Safe and Responsive Schools for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,

Transgender, and Queer Youths

Journal of School Violence, 2013 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for the song. The goal will be to ensure that 

"Gundown" reaches the largest number of 

youths who need to hear the song as possible. 

YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo are some of 

the vehicles that will be considered. 

"Youth leading youth, peers leading peers, is 

so important," explained Marron Thomas, LEC 

Executive Director. "Most kids see gang 

bangers and drug dealers as leaders. Often 

our kids are afraid to do something positive. 

It's not cool to be smart, do the right thing, be 

in school, get involved in sports. We have a 

group of young people who have [chosen] to 

do the right thing [with their lives]. They are 

'ordinary' kids who youth involved in gun 

violence can relate to, kids who make Cs, a 

couple of whom have been in trouble. They 

are saying 'we will make doing the right thing 

cool.' They do this by meeting young people 

where they are. So many kids listen to rap, so 

they use rap music, so it makes it cool for the 

kids to put the guns down." 

The Youth Social Media Team illustrates the 

wisdom of the Forum's emphasis on youth 

engagement. Young people who are affected 

by gun violence have invaluable insight into 

how best to communicate with their peers 

about stopping gun violence. 

The social media campaign has produced 

tremendous results in a short time. There 

were 1,000 "likes" on the Memphis Gun Down 

Facebook page the week before Feb. 17. After 

Feb. 17, there were 2,200 likes. As of March 

27, the number had jumped to 149,000. 

April Terrell, Frayser Youth Council Facilitator, 

described one of the strategies the team 

developed to promote the program. Before the 

Feb. 17 launch of the Memphis Gun Down 

Web site, the team gave their pastors 

Memphis Gun Down tee shirts. They told their 

pastors to wear the tee shirts Feb. 17 and 

change their Facebook profile pictures to the 

Memphis Gun Down logo in a show of unity 

and support for the initiative. The team also 

gave Memphis Gun Down tee shirts and the 

same instructions to their school principals, 

teachers, coaches, parents, and others. 

During morning services Feb. 17, the pastors 

of around 20 churches throughout Memphis 

and the youths in their congregations spoke 

about the Memphis Gun Down program. 

The team devises successful strategies to 

maintain the momentum of the social media 

campaign. They compose and send pointed 

School personnel must be aware of biases and discrimination 

in schools to create and maintain safe and responsive 

environments for all youth. This paper discusses challenges 

faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer 

youths. 

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/

15388220.2012.724357 

Violence Through the Eyes of Youth: A Photovoice

Exploration

Journal of Community Psychology, 2013 

This project used photovoice—a combination of photography 

and group dialogue—to develop a better understanding of 

violence from the youth perspective. Analyses of images and 

conversations support photovoice as a tool for 

comprehending youth perception of violence. 

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/

jcop.21515/full 

Do Age Effects on Youth Secondary Exposure to

Violence Vary Across Social Context? 

Justice Quarterly, 2013 

This study examined links between age and exposure to 

community violence. Findings support the theory that age 

disparities in exposure to violence are attenuated in 

disadvantaged neighborhoods. 

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/

07418825.2012.754922 

A Resolution for Physicians: Time to Focus on the Public

Health Threat of Gun Violence 

Annals of Internal Medicine, 2013 

A case for physicians to promote sensible, evidence-based 

laws to decrease harms associated with gun violence. 

http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1544355 

Reports 

Female Victims of Sexual Violence, 1994-2010 

Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013 

From 1995 to 2005, sexual violence against females in the 

U.S. age 12 and older declined 64 percent, from a peak of 

5.0 per 1,000 females in 1995 to 1.8 per 1,000 females in 

2005. 

http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fvsv9410.pdf 

Teen Dating Abuse and Harassment in the Digital World

Urban Institute, 2013 

The Urban Institute's study on teen dating and digital abuse 

surveyed 5,647 teens to better understand how many have 

been affected by abuse and harassment. 

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/

412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf 

Housing Improvements for Health and Associated

Socioeconomic Outcomes: A Systematic Review

The Campbell Library, 2013 

This report by the Campbell Collaboration sought to assess 

health and social effects on residents after basic home 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twitter messages such as "Why are youth 

dying?" "Have you had enough of the violence 

and crime?" "How is it that some of us go to 

school but don't make it home from school?" 

"We cannot just get used to it ... we got to say 

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH." "Think before you act 

... when you go to prison for a gun crime ...

your family is impacted too!" 

Using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and 

the theme "let's not forget," the team has 

organized remembrances of young people 

slain by gun violence. They include Hadiya 

Pendleton, the 15-year-old girl who performed 

at President Obama's second inauguration 

and was shot Jan. 29 in Chicago and Trayvon 

Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old who was 

killed Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Fla. 

One team member came up with the idea for 

Memphis Gun Down business cards that the 

team passes out in churches, schools, 

community centers, and other venues. The 

front of the card is an image of the Memphis 

Gun Down Web site and URL. The back of the 

card gives the Memphis Gun Down's 

YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram 

links. 

The group recently started a blog on the 

Memphis Gun Down Web site to which a 

different member of the team will contribute 

each week. The blog will be publically 

launched soon. 

The young people who make up the Youth 

Social Media Team and the Frayser Youth 

Council are from 12 high schools in the highpoverty, high-crime communities in and 

around Memphis: Frayser, Trezevant, Booker 

T. Washington, Orange Mound, White Station, 

Melrose, Central, Midtown, Oak Haven, 

Wooddale, Memphis Business Academy, and 

Collegiate School of Memphis. 

All these youths have 

seen the ravages of 

gun violence first 

hand. Ayana Hardy 

works on the 

Memphis Gun Down 

Twitter account and 

was one of the team 

members interviewed 

for the WHBQ FOX 

13 "Special Report

—Inside Memphis Gun Down, Part 4: Youth

Opportunities." The high school senior told 

FOX 13: "It is really affecting us and we are 

improvements such as heat, better insulation, and general 

refurbishment were made. 

http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/lib/project/61 

OJJDP Green Reentry Grant Experiences in Tribal

Communities 

RTI International, 2013 

Three tribal communities share their experiences using 

OJJDP Green Reentry grant funding to support 

environmentally sustainable technologies and activities in 

reentry programming for youth involved with the tribal justice 

system. 

Patterns of Substance Use Among Teens 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration, 2013 

Substance use rates among 16- to 18-year-old youths who 

dropped out of school were higher than those among teens 

still in school, according to a 2013 National Survey on Drug 

Use and Health Report. Higher use rates were mostly 

consistent among males and females and whites and blacks. 

Hispanic 12th grade dropouts and kids still in school had 

similar past-month substance use rates. 

Adolescents and Substance Use Prevention Messages

Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration, 2013 

In 2011, 40 percent of adolescents refrained from talking to 

their parents about the dangers of substance use, and 25 

percent didn't get prevention information at school. Although 

younger kids were less likely to have received prevention 

education through media sources or from a parent, they were 

likelier to get the message through school sources and other 

prevention programs. 

http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k13/NSDUH099b/

sr099b-trends-prevention-messages.htm 

News 

Targeting Violent Crime 

Despite Detroit's many struggles, controlling crime is the 

city's biggest challenge. The author discusses successes and 

setbacks of city Ceasefire programs and Former Deputy 

Mayor Saul Green weighs in on factors that contribute to 

youth violence. 

http://metrotimes.com/news/stir-it-up/

targeting-violent-crime-1.1454610 

Needed: Blueprint for Youth Violence 

Ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in America, St. 

Louis's hot spot policing, incarceration, and gun courts have 

proven unsuccessful in the fight against violent crime, 

according to a former prosecutor and state representative 

who says prevention is a complex problem that requires a 

comprehensive solution.. 

http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/

article_85c0ff74-86d0-11e2-83ec-0019bb2963f4.html 

Minneapolis: Youth Violence Prevention Week 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the future of this city and this country, so it is 

really important for us to get the word out ... I 

wanted to be a part of the solution ... It's not 

just about the youth, it's about the whole city 

of Memphis ..." 

When asked what her work on the Youth 

Social Media Team means to her, Jada said "It 

gives me a positive outlook—I feel capable of 

making a [difference] and reaching out to 

others and being a part of something positive." 

Kevin voiced similar sentiments: [Other kids 

our age] are getting suspended, but we're 

doing something positive. I love the 

recognition for this that we get—people say 'I 

saw you on TV.' It's something very positive 

that's come out of this." 

On Jan. 25, at the same time the team was 

getting on the elevator to attend the press 

conference at which Mayor Wharton would be 

introducing the youth-led social media 

campaign, the Mayor received word that a 15-

year-old and a 17-year-old had been shot in 

the parking lot at Westwood Community 

Center in southwest Memphis. The weapon 

was a 40-caliber semi-automatic handgun. 

Said Marron Thomas about the Gundown 

song: "Please share—we want this message 

to get out to as many people as possible 

because guns are killing our young people 

and we want to speak in a language that our 

young people can understand. The young 

people [who produced the song] are extremely 

talented and are prepared to speak to this 

generation through rap, social media, 

YouTube, short films, and drama." 

Mayor A C Wharton, Jada Cowan, Kevin Jones, LEC 

Outreach Director Leonard Johnson, and April Terrell 

To learn more about the Youth Social Media 

Team, contact: Patience Walker, Memphis 

Forum Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator 

March 18 began Youth Violence Prevention Week in 

Minneapolis—a time when schools and agencies identify 

strategies to combat violence among kids. 

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/1016962/14/

Minneapolis-kicks-off-Youth-Violence-PreventionWeek 

Fighting Youth Homelessness: Provide Housing—And

Help Finding a Job 

Minnesota advocates are arguing for housing and job-related 

services to help youths find jobs and build better lives. 

http://www.minnpost.com/communitysketchbook/2013/03/fighting-youthhomelessness-provide-housing-and-help-finding-job 

Other Resources 

The National Juvenile Defense Standards provide 

comprehensive information about juvenile defenders' roles 

and responsibilities in the modern juvenile court system. 

A research brief on stopbullying.gov examined potential 

links between bullying and suicide among children and youth. 

According to the authors, many factors could increase a 

youth's risk of suicide, including mental health history, family 

history of suicide or child maltreatment, alcohol and 

substance abuse, or isolation. 

Through Our Eyes: Children, Violence, and Trauma is an 

online video series created to help children who have been 

exposed to violence. Victims discuss the effects of violence 

and trauma in a public awareness video; three topic-specific 

videos talk about evidence-based treatment, child advocacy 

strategies, and community-based approaches to help victims. 

The Department of Education's School Turnaround and 

PreventionED newsletters offer resources for turning around 

low-performing schools and provide updates on substance 

abuse and violence prevention education issues, legislation, 

and funding opportunities. 

Guide to Risk Assessment Implementation 

A new publication provides definitions of risk assessment 

concepts, describes research evidence, and offers guidance 

on selecting and implementing an evidence-based tool. Read 

the Risk Assessment in Juvenile Justice: A Guidebook 

for Implementation. 

"The Northwestern Juvenile Project: Overview" 

introduces the first large-scale, prospective longitudinal study 

of drug, alcohol, and psychiatric disorders among juvenile 

detainees. The study's goals, sampling and interview 

methods, measurement areas, and selected findings are 

described in detail. 

Department of Education Asks School Leaders to Help

Reduce Gender-Based Violence 

In a Feb. 28, 2013, "Dear Colleague" letter to state school 

chiefs, the Department of Education requested immediate 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Associate Executive Director, Memphis 

Shelby Crime Commission, 

pwalker@memphiscrime.org, 901.527.2600; 

Marron Thomas, M.Div., Executive Director, 

Leadership Empowerment Center, 

mthomas@lecmemphis.org, 901.870.6326; 

and April Terrell, MPA, Frayser Youth Council 

Facilitator and Volunteer 

Coordinator/AmeriCorps VISTA, Urban Youth 

Initiative, april@uyimemphis.org, 

901.725.3106. 

CITY OF MEMPHIS 

MOURNS LOSS OF 

PEGGIE RUSSELL, 

DIRECTOR OF MEMPHIS 

GUN DOWN INITIATIVE 

Rev. Peggie A. 

Russell, J.D. 

(1966–2013), 

developer of the 

Memphis Gun 

Down concept, 

Director of the 

Memphis Gun 

Down initiative, 

and founder of 

Mayor A C 

Wharton's Youth 

Social Media 

Team, 

unexpectedly passed away March 26 from 

diabetes-related complications. 

She was a member of the Mayor's Innovation 

Delivery Team and served on the Board of 

Directors of the Memphis Shelby Crime 

Commission. She also was Project 

Coordinator for the Shelby County, Tenn. 

Defending Childhood Initiative demonstration 

site. In addition, she was an adjunct criminal 

justice faculty member at The University of 

Phoenix–Memphis Campus. 

Rev. Russell was an expert in community 

mobilization, partnership building, leadership 

development, and mentoring. As chairperson, 

director, or board member, she strengthened 

and expanded many local organizations 

dedicated to improving the lives of youths and 

families. She also was a devoted mentor to ataction to reduce gender-based violence in schools and help 

ensure all students are safe. The letter and additional 

materials were released during a White House event on teen 

dating violence prevention, which was part of National Teen 

Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. 

Additionally, the Department's National Center on Safe 

Supportive Learning Environments released a new training 

module - Get Smart, Get Help, Get Safe - to help school 

nurses, school counselors, and school psychologists to 

identify and respond appropriately to signs of abuse. 

Read the letter. 

Access the training module. 

National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth 

How can youth workers recognize teen dating abuse? This 

Q&A provides expert advice on how to spot unhealthy teen 

relationships and help victims. 

http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/the-beat/

2013/02/recognize-teen-dating-violence 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

& UPCOMING EVENTS 

Training Opportunities 

Forum Training and Technical Assistance Now Available 

The National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention is a 

network of communities and federal agencies that work 

together, sharing information and building local capacity to 

prevent and reduce youth violence. OJJDP makes training 

and technical assistance (TTA) available to the 10 Forum 

sites through Development Services Group, Inc., to ensure 

balanced approaches that combine prevention, intervention, 

enforcement, and reentry. For more information call 

301.951.0056 or email dmarsden@dsgonline.com. 

Center for Juvenile Justice Reform Programs

The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform Certificate 

programs include multisystems integration, information 

sharing, youth in custody, and reducing racial and ethnic 

disparities in juvenile justice. 

2013 National Court–Appointed Special Advocates

Conference 

Connect with peers and learn from field leaders at this April 

6–9, 2013, conference in Anaheim, California, which will 

feature more than 50 workshops and institutes, general 

sessions, and an exhibit hall with information and resources 

for the field. More information is available online. 

Juvenile Justice Reform Conference 

On April 12–13, 2013, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

risk youths. She received numerous awards 

for her tireless volunteer work. 

In a WHBQ FOX 13 tribute to Rev. Russell, 

Mayor Wharton described her commitment to 

addressing the factors that place youths at 

risk: "She knew that once you sandblasted 

away all of the barnacles that many of our 

children face, barnacles not placed there by 

themselves, but barnacles of broken homes, 

illiteracy, being born to a teen mom, Peggie 

knew that layer by layer, we needed to peel 

that away and it takes time. Peggie was like a 

mother to all these initiatives." 

We extend our deepest sympathy to Rev. 

Russell's family, friends, and colleagues; to 

the Memphis Gun Down team; and to the 

hundreds of youths and families she helped 

during more than a decade of outstanding 

service to her community. 

UPDATES 

On March 25, Robert L. Listenbee, Jr. became 

Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice 

and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Mr. 

Listenbee is the former Chief of the Juvenile 

Unit of the Defender Association of 

Philadelphia. He also advised Pennsylvania's 

governor on juvenile justice policy as a 

member of the Juvenile Justice and 

Delinquency Prevention Committee of the 

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and 

Delinquency. http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/

2013/March/13-ag-351.html 

William S. Boyd School of Law will host a juvenile justice 

conference to address the school-to-prison pipeline, 

immigration policy and juvenile justice, significance of brain 

science for youth policy, behavioral and legal issues involving 

juvenile sex offenders, and disclosure of juvenile records. 

Training workshops provided by the Partnership for Families 

& Children and National Center for School Engagement focus 

on nonprofit development, program evaluation, and school 

involvement. View workshop times and dates. 

Child Welfare League of America National Conference 

The April 2013 conference in Washington, D.C., will cover 

evidence-informed and evidence-based practices and realworld solutions that demonstrate successful thinking in 

support of children, youth, and families. Register online. 

The Coalition of Juvenile Justice will host its national 

conference, Building Supportive Communities to Prevent

Violence and Delinquency, May 1–4, 2013, in Washington, 

D.C. Sessions will focus on fostering collaborative efforts 

among schools, courts, law enforcement, service providers, 

and families to prevent or limit youth involvement in the 

justice system; reduce firearm offenses; dismantle the schoolto-prison pipeline; provide evidence-based responses to 

children exposed to violence; and promote equitable access 

to services. 

Funding Opportunities 

The Community-Based Violence Prevention

Demonstration Program provides funding for localities to 

support federal, state, and local partnerships to re-create 

multidisciplinary, community-based strategies for reducing 

violence. Applications are due April 22, 2013. 

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) will fund high-quality 

research and evaluation on teen dating violence, sexual 

violence, and intimate partner violence. Learn more. 

NIJ is accepting proposals from postdoctoral researchers to 

fund collection of new data or analyze existing data on teen 

dating violence among understudied populations. 

OJJDP seeks to establish a Tribal Youth Program TTA 

provider to offer culturally appropriate training, support, 

resources, information, and other TA to tribal grantees and 

federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native 

tribes. Applications are due May 6, 2013. Visit OJJDP's Web 

site for more information. 

The Family Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance

Program supports TTA to develop, maintain, and enhance 

drug courts for substance-abusing adults with child abuse 

and/or neglect issues. Applications are due May 6, 2013. 

OJJDP will select an awardee to provide services and 

support to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task

Force Program. The task force focuses on prevention, 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Us 

Send questions or feedback about the newsletter to 

NFYVP@dsgonline.com or subscribe. 

investigation, and prosecution of technology-facilitated child 

sexual exploitation. Applications are due May 7, 2013. 

One or more evaluation studies will be funded to produce 

findings on the identification, adaptation, and testing of 

promising programs, policies, and strategies for tribal juvenile 

justice and delinquency prevention. Applications are due May 

14, 2013. Learn more. 

The National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Newsletter 

is prepared under Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 

Prevention (OJJDP) Cooperative Agreement No. 2012–MU– 

FX–K009 with Development Services Group, Inc. 

The views, opinions, and content of this newsletter are those 

of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views, 

opinions, or policies of OJJDP.