Chicago | Bronzeville — Mayor Rahm Emanuel kicked off the second annual ‘Summer of Faith and Action’ in the Bronzeville community at the Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church. He was joined by Dr. Leon Finney, Jr. (Pastor of Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church), Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), business and community leaders, anti-violence organizations, and hundreds of residents. Mayor Emanuel encouraged residents to participate in neighborhood activities to take back their communities from violence across the city on Friday. Emmanuel said, “Last year when we did this, we went for 24 hours without a gunshot. It wasn’t that there were more police on the streets. It wasn’t that there were more government programs and after school stuff. Although all of those are valuable things, what was more of, us —out on the street reminding people these are the streets for our good children, our good families; they do not belong to the gangbangers that are out there. The ‘Summer of Faith and Action’ program is a citywide violence prevention initiative to promote safety during the summer months.” The program works to show the great Chicago spirit and create opportunities and empowerment in neighborhoods across the City.
