Memphis Allies Stories

Memphis Allies staff and J. Machelle Pugh, founder of CPC

Fueling Hope

by Memphis Allies | Jun 20, 2025 | Memphis Allies, Partner Spotlight, Spotlight

Fueling Hope: Memphis Allies donates van to the CPC

Christopher A. Pugh II Center (CPC) serves as a community partner with Memphis Allies’ SWITCH Youth program. As part of the partnership, Memphis Allies recently presented the CPC with a new van and a monetary donation to support its community work.

J. Machelle Pugh, founder of CPC, highlighted the meaning behind her organization.

“I lost my only son to gun violence in 2019; the worst news you can get is that you lost your child unexpectedly,” Pugh said. “We turned pain into purpose. We want to equip the people we serve with tools and resources, because we have all made mistakes.”

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We turned pain into purpose. We want to equip the people we serve with tools and resources, because we have all made mistakes.

— J. Machelle Pugh

founder of CPC

The mission of the Christopher A. Pugh Center is to unlock the potential of males facing systematic and economic barriers. The organization is dedicated to providing support to both youth and adults in correctional and community settings.

The CPC operates in nine correctional facilities, aiming to shift the mindset of those they serve. They provide workforce development such as HVAC, culinary arts, financial literacy, computer coding and more.

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Jevonte Porter, director of community relations at Memphis Allies, emphasized the importance of partnerships like this one.

“We’re committed to supporting organizations invested in the work of reducing gun violence in our city, and those that have an impact on serving a population that is critical to this work,” Porter said. “The CPC has been a strong supporter of our work and a strong advocate for creating safer neighborhoods.”