U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) held a roundtable in Memphis with elected officials and community leaders to discuss the role of after-school programs in preventing juvenile crime. The event focused on how these programs can support young people and reduce rates of recidivism.
Earlier this year, Senator Blackburn introduced the bipartisan AFTER SCHOOL Act. This legislation would create a grant program through the U.S. Department of Justice to help school districts and non-profits expand access to after-school initiatives aimed at reducing juvenile crime.
“As Tennessee students go back to school, cities like Memphis are in need of critical resources to strengthen after-school programs that are proven to combat juvenile crime. My AFTER SCHOOL Act would invest in the next generation of Memphians by establishing a grant program for school districts and non-profits to establish, maintain, and strengthen after-school programs. During the roundtable, we discussed how additional resources can help prevent juvenile crime by promoting higher academic achievement, and I am grateful to each of the participants for joining this important conversation,” said Senator Blackburn.
The discussion included participation from U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor, Tennessee State Representative John Gillespie, Memphis Police Department Assistant Chief Martin Kula, Shelby County Commissioners Brandon Morrison and Charlie Caswell, as well as leaders from local organizations such as Youth Villages, Boys & Girls Club of Memphis, YMCA Memphis, Shelby County Schools Needs Assessment Committee, Memphis Allies Initiative, Tennessee Charter Schools Center, Memphis Tomorrow, Pure Academy, Love Worth Finding Ministries, and others.
Senator Blackburn has also introduced other legislative efforts related to public safety and juvenile justice reform.
