Strong African American Families (SAAF) led by Mareena Shipp

Posted July 2, 2026

The goal of SAAF is to build on the strength of Black and African American families and support youth and their caregivers during the transition from early adolescence to the teen years with a specific emphasis on helping youth avoid risky and/or dangerous behaviors.

Mareena Shipp, in collaboration with the Women’s Foundation of Greater Memphis, organized and completed a SAAF (Strong African American Families) cohort with seven parents and 10 youth participants at the Emmanuel Center in South Memphis. A very special congratulations to Ms. Shipp, Mrs. Renae Hawkins, and Mr. Reginald White for a very successful training event.