U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) hosted a roundtable discussion with elected officials and community leaders in Memphis to discuss how after-school programs help prevent juvenile crime and invest in the next generation of Memphians. Earlier this year, Senator Blackburn introduced the bipartisan AFTER SCHOOL Act, which would establish a grant program administered through the U.S. Department of Justice to provide funding for school districts and non-profits to increase access to after-school programs that are proven to reduce juvenile crime and recidivism.

“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.”

Senator Blackburn was joined in this discussion by U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor, Tennessee State Representative John Gillespie, Memphis Police Department Assistant Chief of Police Martin Kula, Shelby County Commissioner Brandon Morrison, Shelby County Commissioner Charlie Caswell, Youth Villages CEO Charmaine Kromer, Boys & Girls Club of Memphis CEO Michael Garriga, YMCA CEO Brian McLaughlin, YMCA Memphis Executive Vice President Cleo Griffin, Shelby County Schools Needs Assessment Committee Vice Chair Cato Johnson, Memphis Allies Initiative Executive Director Susan Deason, Youth Villages Managing Director of Operations Carl Davis, Tennessee Charter Schools Center Senior Vice President of Advocacy Carra Powell, Memphis Tomorrow President Blair Taylor, Pure Academy Board Member Kemp Conrad, Pure Academy Headmaster Melvin Cole, Love Worth Finding Ministries President Cary Vaughn, Boys & Girls Club CEO Gwen Woods, and Youth Villages Executive Director Stephanie Pugh.