Like many Chicagoans, our lives have been personally impacted by the presence of violence and the loss of loved ones in this city. As the season changes, we are increasingly concerned about our youth because of the potential for violence during the summer months. To foster a safer summer for youth and young adults, we would like to share a few ways Chicagoans can get involved by either communing together in response to or reflection on past loss, or by supporting grassroots community efforts across the city.
Together we can help to reaffirm the dignity, beauty, and possibility of every Chicagoan. This year on June 2, my (Cleopatra’s) daughter, Hadiya Pendleton, would have been 27 years old. Unfortunately, her life was cut short on Jan.
29, 2013 by gun violence when she was just 15 years old after returning home from participating in President Barack Obama’s second inauguration. Living without her is an impossible task that I work to master daily. No one should have to imagine being in my shoes, not even me.
However, far too many families can now relate to this travesty, and it must stop. In response to this reality, Hadiya’s Promise hosted an annual Party4Peace in Hadiya Pendleton Park, a park developed in her memory to create a safe space for youth and their families. The Party4Peace theme this year is a call to action for a safer summer for Chicago youth.
To optimize the caring voices (people) of Chicago, a few organizations have collaborated to establish the first an.
