Chicago police have lamented that gangs and their often-deadly activity are a bane for communities around the city.
Chicago police have lamented that gangs and their often-deadly activity are a bane for communities around the city.
Saturday, Alderwoman Latasha Thomas and her 17th Ward minister’s and education advisory councils met to come up with ideas for keeping students in the South Side ward safe as the youngsters travel to and from school and as they prepare for summer break.
“With all of the violence that occurs … we should be working a little bit closer with the schools,” Thomas told the Defender.
The Youth Violence Prevention summit, held at the Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, 7545 S. Vincennes, brought together community leaders, Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman, 6th and 7th district police officials, Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott, clergy and dozens of elementary school principals.
“I’m tired of hearing every day another child was shot and killed,” Thomas, head of the City Council’s Education Committee, said.
Police leaders said the two districts, which are separated by 75th Street on the north and south, normally would not infringe on each other’s area. But with the heightened gang activity in the ward and the surrounding area, the two now collaborate.
Faith leaders and school heads found out that, separately, they each had come up with ways to deal with the youth, to help steer them clear of harm.
Several schools have formed parent patrols to help keep students from being approached by gangs as they travel back and forth to school.
CPS officials said the parent patrols are effective.
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