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CHICAGO (WLS) — A significant gathering at 57th Street Beach on Monday resulted in the arrest of several youths. The incident underscores the need for safer alternatives as the city approaches the summer months.
In anticipation of the summer season, some residents of Chicago are actively seeking to provide young people with secure and meaningful activities to engage in.
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Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement on Friday afternoon urging vigilance: “As we approach the weekend, I call upon parents, guardians, and trusted adults to help steer clear of unsanctioned gatherings involving teens. Stay informed about your children’s whereabouts and discuss the potential dangers of these events with them.”
He further advised, “To the youth of Chicago: refrain from attending these gatherings, as they can rapidly become volatile and have serious repercussions. The Chicago Police Department will be upholding curfew and other relevant laws, while community violence intervention teams will be present to ensure the safety of young people.”
Mayor Johnson also highlighted the city’s commitment to its youth: “Chicago is making investments in its young people. Today marks the final opportunity to apply for Chicago Youth Works, the city’s summer employment initiative. I urge young individuals to apply and use the My CHI. My Future. app to explore summer opportunities.”
“Stay safe, look out for one another and choose opportunities that invest in your future.”
Outreach worker James Mitchell prepared with his team to find out where kids might be gathering Friday evening. They like to be in the space first to get to know the teens and set the tone for a drama-free zone.
“Wanting to be social is what we want for our young people we want them to be come out and be safe and we want the residents to be able to enjoy the city it belongs to all of us,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell was at 57th Street Beach Monday, where the crowd of young people grew and got out of hand. He is the Field Manager of the Crisis Intervention and Response Unit at Metropolitan Peace Initiative. The outreach team tries to stay ahead of trends and make sure teens understand the consequences of bad decisions and connect them to other options.
“The goal is to collaborate with park districts and a lot of entities in the city and find out what would be the best fit for our young people,” Mitchell said.
Diane Latiker with Kids Off The Block has worked with thousands of young people in the Pullman Roseland area. She makes sure they feel genuine care and guidance. She saw they needed a safe space, so she took over a vacant lot across the street.
“I want them to feel better I want them to feel better in their community so they don’t feel like they have to go downtown to do anything,” Latiker said.
They will be working out Saturday at Mollison Elementary school. Trainers from Phenomenal Fitness are volunteering for a Restore the Youth Field Take Over.
Trainer Sunny Akhigbe also founded A Boy and His Dream. His experience of being abandoned as an infant motivated him to make sure young people feel valued, so he created the free teen event Saturday.
“We will show them respect while encouraging to behave and behave right and be a good citizen,” Akhigbe said. “I think is what the community desperately needs now and the best way to do that is to demonstration they are loved.”
Akhigbe urges young people to use their phone to register for Saturday’s field day instead of tracking the next teen meetup. He says parents are welcome too.
More information can be found here.
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