ONE Northside, State and City Officials Launch Summer Safety Initiatives
North Side neighborhood leaders announce youth programs and call for long-term violence prevention programs, housing, and more
Chicago, IL – Local community-organizing non-profit ONE Northside joined city and state elected officials on Tuesday, May 23 to announce a coordinated effort to keep their North Side neighborhoods safe this summer. At a press conference and rally at Pottawattomie Park in Rogers Park, leaders from the organization’s Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) anti-violence program and Parent Mentors educational initiative shared how their programs are working to build safer communities. State Senator Mike Simmons (IL District 7), Representative Hoan Huynh (IL District 13), Alderwoman Angela Clay (Ward 46), Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (Ward 48), District Council Member Darrell Dacres (District 20) and District Council Member Edvetté Jones (District 24) all spoke about the need for more resources in their communities and gave their commitment to support the work of ONE Northside’s programs.
“ONE Northside is fighting for long-term solutions to keep our communities safe like affordable housing, access to mental health care, and youth jobs,” said ONE Northside’s co-board president, Rev. Lindsey Joyce. “While we work on these long-term solutions, we also need short-term solutions to keep our families safe. This summer, we’re working hard to make sure our young people have places to go, things to do and mentors to support them.”
At the event, ONE Northside shared a schedule of activities coordinated by CP4P for young people and families in Rogers Park and Uptown through the end of June, with more events to be announced throughout the summer. CP4P also offers ongoing trauma-informed services for community members most at risk of experiencing gun violence, youth mentoring at Senn High School, financial literacy classes, and more community-based violence intervention services.
District Council Members from the 17th, 19th, 20th, and 24th Districts attended the event to meet with constituents and share information about their upcoming meetings. The public is encouraged to get involved with the newly-created District Councils to share their experiences and concerns about public safety in their neighborhoods.
CP4P participant Jacob Logan shared his experience and his excitement about coming through the program. “By spending time with the CP4P team I’m learning more about staying away from trouble and things that can sway me away from my goal of bringing positive things back to my neighborhood,” Logan reported. “There’s lots of fun stuff coming up this summer, like the Light in the Night events, basketball tournaments, flag football, spades and chess tournaments. I hope to see you around!”
“We have an obligation to keep fighting for our kids and our communities,” said Rep. Hoan Huynh. “We should not be used to this as our normal [of 3 shootings that occurred on the far northside in the 24 hours prior to the event]. When we’re down in Springfield, we’re pushing for resources to bring back to our communities. We’re pushing for affordable housing, to fully fund the Parent Mentors, and healthcare.”
Photos of the event may be found here and a video here.
Shine a Light Summer Safety Plan Details
ONE Northside is increasing and coordinating efforts to ensure that community residents, and especially our young people, have a safe summer in our service area. This includes Rogers Park, Edgewater, Uptown, Lakeview, Ravenswood, North Center and Lincoln Park, although we recognize that public safety doesn’t have geographic boundaries.
We view public safety holistically and through an anti-racist lens. Our definition includes safe streets and homes, safe and affordable housing, good schools and jobs, and access to quality health services (including mental health). We believe that racial justice is critical for genuine and sustainable public safety. We urge you to look at all of our campaigns. This plan is focused on those that most directly and immediately impact our short-term goal of a safe summer in 2023.
ONE Northside’s plan for a safe summer includes community outreach, family support, and grassroots communication about public safety.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
Communities Partnering for Peace (CP4P) is a violence prevention program which employs outreach workers, victim advocates, and case managers to work directly with the people most affected by violent crime using proven strategies to interrupt cycles of retaliation and despair. ONE Northside’s CP4P team works primarily in Rogers Park and Uptown.
During the summer, CP4P will be doing the following:
- Nightly canvasses, including focus on areas where violence seems most likely
- Regular communication with clients who are at risk of participation in or victimization of violence
- Light in the Night events:
- Check the calendar for events occurring throughout the summer
FAMILY SUPPORT:
The Parent Mentors program has recruited and trained parents, mostly Black and Latina mothers, to assist teachers in classrooms in six elementary schools in our neighborhoods.Focusing on the goal of enhancing and improving permanency outcomes for families, Parent Mentors are role models who provide guidance based on a combination of training and personal first-hand experience.
Parents can serve in many roles. One of these potential roles of a mentor is assistance for their child, children or for other young people.Parents are mentors when they nurture interests. They encourage and further the development of abilities in talents, and support a child as he/she endeavors to reach goals.
For instance, growing and expanding their leadership skills and establishing a reputation as a mentor or advisor. They improve their communication skills, expand their knowledge based on a specific industry and attain new perspectives. Learning in either their personal or public careers. They are also able to receive part-time or full time positions in their schools. We have had at least 11 mentors transition over to cps as recess coaches or lunch aid attendants and all the teacher aide depends on how long they attend school. Either here or through their ethnic backgrounds in which they are frequently able to transfer their credits here. Join the program, Grow Your Own Teachers (GYO), to achieve a completed education. Go through our organized coordinator Ebony Deberry for more information.
In addition to Parent Mentors activities, the Chicago Park District is hosting a Family Fest at Pottawattomie Park, Friday August 25, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm for family fun and activities. The movie, Wakanda Forever, starts at 8:00pm and they will provide popcorn.
GRASSROOTS COMMUNICATION:
As part of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance passed in 2021, Chicagoans began electing Police District Councilors in February, 2023. Each of the city’s 22 police districts now has a Police District Council made up of three elected Councilors. ONE Northside’s Police Accountability team worked to create the ECPS ordinance, and several ONE Northside leaders were elected as District Councilors.
District Councilors are liaisons between the community and the district police command, identifying issues that can be addressed at the neighborhood level. Councilors also select members of the City-wide Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability (CCPSA) which sets police policy. Some issues that come up in the community may be best referred to the CCPSA and the Councilors would also do that. The District Councils will play an important role in hearing from community members and communicating concerns so that they can be addressed.
The four District Councils covered in this plan are 17, 19, 20, and 24. Each District Council has its own public meeting schedule and communication method.