Jackson City Councilman, Tony Yarber who is also a pastor decided to form a coalition of faith leaders to stand against crime. It wasn't based on what he had seen on T.V., heard on the radio or read in the newspapers. Instead he says it was based on what he was hearing from his own three children.
"When they come in the house and they're telling me about something that just happened around the corner where they were playing at the park and then it dawns on me something bad could have become of that situation. And the little child that I'm sitting here talking to could very well not be here anymore. And so as you look at that those are the dominos. So what happens in our streets, we see it in our schools, we see it in malls and so at some point somebody's got to say enough is enough and who better to say it than the church."
Yarber recently revealed a city-wide plan to address crime through what he calls the Faith Based Alignment. Matt Mcgue, Pastors a multi cultural, multi ethnic congregation called, One Church. He says one component of the Faith Based Alignment is a virtual data base where people can seek help tailored to their specific needs.
"For instance is they have children that might not have a father in the home how could there be a church locally that could lock arms with that family and say hey, how can we mentor your sons and your daughters? You know my parents always told me, Matt I can tell you who you are by who you hang out with.”
It's a concept that is strongly embraced by Minister Abram Muhammad, state representative of the nation of Islam.
"I'd much rather work at McDonalds for minimum wage than to work on the street and have to constantly look over my shoulders man. So take that hustling spirit and produce a job for yourself on a legal level.
Based on national trends property and violent crimes in Jackson are expected to be lower this year than they were in 2010, when they exceeded the national average.
