Mayor Rahm Emanuel has begun an important new initiative to reduce violence in Chicago this summer. Mayor Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s new program One Summer Chicago will improve summer programming offered to youth in Garfield Park, Englewood, Woodlawn, and Little Village. We support Mayor Emanuel’s investment in communities that have been neglected.
One Summer Chicago aims to reduce the risk of youth becoming involved in violence during the summer. A recent study published by DC Lawyers for Youth supports the idea that quality summer programming will reduce youth involvement in criminal activity. The study found that in Washington DC, youth arrests actually went down during the summer months. Deborah Shore, Executive Director of Sasha Bruce Youthwork, attributes this trend to the variety of quality youth summer programs offered in DC. This new evidence from DC indicates that summer does not have to be a time of increased violent crime. We believe improving summer programming for youth in Chicago will provide positive alternatives to criminal activity and will reduce youth arrests.
At Youth Outreach Services, we have seen the success of community based organizations that provide high quality programming for youth. In the Austin Community, Youth Outreach Services has partnered with CeaseFire to provide programs aimed at violence and crime prevention. We have the support of 37th Ward Alderman Emma Mitts, who has seen a decrease in shootings in the Austin community since CeaseFire began implementing programs in the community.
CeaseFire Week, starting June 18 at Spencer Academy, will kick off CeaseFire’s summer anti-violence initiatives. The weeklong celebration will bring Chicago communities together to promote peace and encourage community members to take a stand against violence. We invite community members, legislators, and Mayor Emanuel to join Alderman Mitts and Alderman Ervin at this important event. For more information, visit our website www.yos.org.
— Rick Velasquez, Executive Director, Youth Outreach Services, Chicago
