On Sunday, a dedicated pastor from Chicago rallied hundreds of men on the city’s South Side, aiming to curb violence and revitalize a neighborhood once notorious for its high crime rates.
Pastor Corey B. Brooks, alongside Project H.O.O.D., orchestrated the “1000 Men Unity Gathering” at the almost-completed Robert R. McCormick Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center located at 6620 S. King Drive. During the event, they boldly declared the surrounding vicinity as a “100% violence-free zone.”
“This initiative goes beyond just constructing a building,” Brooks emphasized. “It’s about fostering a culture where men unite to safeguard families, mentor the youth, curb violence, and establish a legacy that will endure beyond our time.”
He continued, “We are asserting that this community is entitled to peace, opportunity, and a sense of hope.”
The gathering united pastors, fathers, mentors, activists, business leaders, former gang members, and local residents from across Chicago. Organizers described it as a collective endeavor to enhance safety, encourage responsibility, and create opportunities on the South Side.
Brooks told Fox News Digital that approximately 750 men attended the gathering, where community members committed to maintaining the neighborhood as a peaceful environment for families and children.
“We declared that this is going to be a peace zone, a nonviolent zone, a violence-free zone,” Brooks said. “So the young kids can come to the center and have peace of mind knowing they don’t have to worry about their safety.”
The Robert R. McCormick Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center is designed to address violence and poverty through workforce development, mentorship, education, entrepreneurship, job training and community engagement, according to Project H.O.O.D.
Attendees received an early look inside the facility Sunday as organizers outlined plans for the center to serve future generations on Chicago’s South Side.
Brooks said the neighborhood surrounding the center was once considered one of the most dangerous areas in Chicago.
“In 2014, the Chicago Sun-Times wrote an article saying this was the most dangerous neighborhood in all Chicago, and it happened to be this block,” Brooks told Fox News Digital. “So, we decided to transform it, and that’s what’s been happening.”
The area is no longer ranked among Chicago’s 35 most dangerous blocks, which Brooks attributed to ongoing community investment and outreach efforts.
He founded Project H.O.O.D. — Helping Others Obtain Destiny — to reduce violence and poverty on Chicago’s South Side through mentorship, faith, workforce training and economic development initiatives.
Brooks said he hopes the project can serve as a national model for urban communities seeking long-term change.
“I think this center is going to be an example of what we can do across America in urban areas,” Brooks said. “If we don’t wait on government and take responsibility for ourselves, we can change the trajectory of these neighborhoods and urban centers.”