One Corner at a Time
Tamar Manasseh and a group of volunteers put on hot-pink T-shirts, got their lawn chairs, some hots dogs, went to the corner of 75th Street and South Stewart Avenue and cooked dinner. That is how Manasseh, the founder and president of Mothers Against Senseless Killings (MASK), reclaimed one of the most violent corners in Chicago. After
A March for Peace in Pilsen
On Saturday, September 23rd, over 100 people gathered at the headquarters of Mujeres Latinas En Acción (MLA) for the Pilsen Peace March. Men, women, and youth marched in solidarity to promote peace and nonviolence for teens. Upon arrival, individuals gathered in the basement where they greeted their fellow participants and continued to prep for the day's
Introducing Kufi Club
"I wear the Kufi Hat a lot. One day a 6-year-old kid asked me 'Man, what's that your wearing on your head?' I explained to him what it was, he was like how can I get one?' I said well you gotta join the club, because when you wear this crown, this Kufi, you have to
The Road to Peace Is Through Dance
Students of Lindblom Math and Science Academy were given the option of learning Swing, Steppin', and Salsa during a "Dance Makers are Peace Makers workshop" held at Lindblom in late Septemeber. Their dance of choice, Steppin', a well-known partner dance in the city of Chicago involves an easy to learn two-step. As the rising vibrations of Beyoncé's
Chicagoans Gather in Douglas Park for Chicagoland United in Prayer Event
On August 19th hundreds of Chicagoans gathered in Douglas Park for the Chicagoland United in Prayer event. Organized by a variety of the city's Christian Leaders, this event called for members of diverse communities to come together in prayer for the City of Chicago. The event was organized by a myriad of religious leaders and organizations
Imagine Englewood If: Kids Summer Camp
Kids in Englewood have so many bad influences and images staring them in their faces as they wake up each morning. Those images are sometimes block after block of " DO NOT CROSS" police tape from an incident earlier in the day or the bad memories from the scene of a crime that happened weeks ago
Live in the Spirit – Drum Circle for Peace
The rhythmic beat of African drums reverberated throughout Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72 ndStreet on Saturday, August 26th; and local youth were in the spotlight at a pulse-pounding "Drum Circle for Peace" program presented as part of this summer's Safest Summer 2017 Initiative "Praise in the Park." The musical extravaganza was part of a Back-to-School program that
Young People and Police Start Talking at Elijah’s House
Elijah's House kicked-off their anti-violence activities in August with an event to mend the walls of communication between Chicago's youth and the Chicago Police Department. Venita Williams, Executive Director and planner of this event, said the idea was born from conversations staff members often had with teens about their daily concerns. They found that many teens
Introduction to the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities
Chicago's gun violence crisis requires all of us to make community safety a priority. Last year, following a decade of progress in reducing violence, Chicago suffered 4,368 shootings and 764 homicides, a level of violence unheard of since the 1990s. The trend continues in 2017. It must stop, and all of us have a role to play. There
Youth Outreach Services Is Bringing Positive Vibes To Austin With End of Summer Bash
With the many news headlines about the ongoing violence plaguing the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side, Vanessa Sanchez worries that the youth growing up in the community are unable to think positively about their futures. "[Austin] is so often featured in the media as a dangerous area," says Sanchez, the prevention program manager at Youth Outreach