Domestic violence focus moves to children 
Community leaders concerned about spikes in domestic violence
crimes in Memphis and Shelby County put the spotlight on children and
violence in an annual event at The Urban Child Institute.
Sponsored by Raising Families. Erasing Violence a
collaboration of organizations focusing on a community response to domestic
crime this year's theme was Saving our Precious Children. Nearly 80
people in attendance and the news media heard a presentation by local
criminologist Dr. Richard Janikowski, who showed new data about the effects
of violence on children and the areas in town where children are most
vulnerable to violence.
Julie Coffey, director of the Shelby County Office of Early
Childhood and Youth, announced that the community has been awarded a
$159,099 federal planning grant one of 8 across the nation to help
children exposed to violence.
Other speakers included Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Shelby County
District Attorney Bill Gibbons, and Deborah M. Clubb, executive director of
the Memphis Area Women's Council and coordinator of the community response
to domestic violence.
Later the same day, the Raising Families. Erasing Violence.
group sponsored a special showing of the Hollywood film Precious at Studio
on the Square theatre. Before and after the film, a survivors¹ panel and a
community response panel further informed those in attendance about the DV
problem and best practices and solutions.
View coverage of the day's events
