MEMPHIS, Tenn. — (WREG) Memphis will host the inaugural meeting this week for a group of 21 city mayors from across the country who are working together to fight crime.

The Black Mayors’ Coalition on Crime, spearheaded by Memphis Mayor Paul Young, will launch March 27 and 28. Dr. Russell Wigginton, President of the National Civil Rights Museum, will facilitate the event.

“The time is now for us to speak with one voice, to call for national and local policy change and funding, and to share our collective learnings to create the meaningful change that will reduce crime in all of our communities,” said Young.

When asked if this was limited to black mayors, Young said this is open to anyone who can contribute.

Memphis has experienced hundreds of homicides, thousands of robberies, and smash-and-grab thefts. 2023 was a year of high violence across Memphis, with record homicide numbers and more than 2,200 business burglaries in the past year.

But now city leaders say they’re focused on solutions.

“We’ve shifted from lamenting the causal effect and the impact of this to focusing on solutions. What are we doing about it,” said Ted Townsend with the Greater Memphis Chamber.

The event will focus on crime trend data and case studies on successful crime-fighting initiatives, including “Operation SCARLET” (Stolen Car & Recovery Law Enforcement Team) from Charlotte, North Carolina, and “Operation Good” from Jackson, Mississippi.

“For the first time in history, we have an unprecedented number of black mayors in some of our biggest cities: Mayor Adams in New York City, Mayor Bass in Los Angeles, and Mayor Johnson in Chicago, to name a few,” said Young, “not to mention hundreds of others, like myself who represent millions of Americans in small-to-medium and large-sized cities across the country. Many of these leaders come from the communities most affected by crime, so they have a unique perspective on solving it.”

Data shows the nation’s homicide level is at its highest in 25 years, and Gallup poll data shows the public’s worries about crime are also on the rise.

Memphis, like many cities, has wrestled with a high crime rate. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement that public safety is a necessity to achieve prosperity.

“As a former police officer, I know firsthand that public safety is not just about keeping people safe — it is also about making sure people feel safe. I applaud Mayor Young for convening the Black Mayors Coalition on Crime to have an honest conversation around protecting our cities and delivering peace of mind at a time when our communities need it most.”