Memphis

The Memphis Division is pleased to honor Julaine K. Harris, an advocate for crime reduction through youth programs, as a recipient of the 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Award.

For more than 18 years, Ms. Harris has worked for both corporate and nonprofit organizations to advance youth programs, reduce gang activity, protect children from domestic violence, and provide affordable housing for low-income families. While working with the Department of Justice’s Smart Policing Initiative for the city of Memphis, Ms. Harris provided guidance and oversight for programs such as the Gang Reduction Assistance for Saving Society’s Youth and served on the program’s multi-agency steering committee. In 2012, Ms. Harris began working with the Department of Justice’s Defending Childhood Initiative, where she currently serves as the Safeways coordinator. In this capacity, she works with law enforcement and other social services providers to identify and address safety and quality of life issues within multi-family communities. Ms. Harris became an advocate for affordable housing while chairing the Nashville Housing Forum with Affordable Housing Resources, Inc. She has worked on multiple initiatives serving low- to moderate-income citizens.

In addition to her Tennessee-based duties, Ms. Harris was also the southeast regional coordinator for National Community Partnerships as well the regional coordinator for the corporation’s faith-based efforts. In the latter capacity, Ms. Harris developed and managed a corporate-modeled, five-year, $25 million national faith-based partnership with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Ms. Harris also is a senior consultant with the University of Memphis’ Center for Community Criminology and Research and the Center for Community Building and Neighborhood Action.

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