Mayor's office of Public Safety launches neighborhood walks against violence

The Mayor's Office of Public Safety is encouraging community members to join local leaders, Boston Police and other advocates in a series of neighborhood walks to engage with neighbors in areas that have been struck by recent acts of violence in the City.

"We know there is more work to be done to end violence in our neighborhoods," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "Now is the time that we must come together as one community to find the solutions that create neighborhoods that are safe for our children and our families."

After a recent meeting with community leaders, clergy and advocates, Mayor Walsh and Police Commissioner William Evans asked the group for help and thoughts on how everyone can work together to disrupt the violence in our neighborhoods and encourage other neighbors to join the movement. Many thoughts and ideas were shared, but an immediate and tangible step that the Mayor and Commissioner asked for, and the group decided on, was a series of neighborhood walks to engage together with parts of our city that have witnessed and suffered from the most recent acts of violence.

"There were many forces that drove Boston's violence dramatically downward in the 1990s," said Reverend Mark Scott, a member of the Mayor's Interfaith Council. "One was a lot people working hard, together. The other was people praying. In the Jewish and Christian traditions we are told to 'Seek the peace of the city. Pray ... for it.' These walks are seeking peace. As we walk many of us will pray in our hearts for peace. Please join us in this and continue to find ways, many ways, to build relationships with and create opportunity for the young people of our City." 

Scheduled walks include:

Schedule for Mondays - Saturdays: August 31 - October 2     
6:00 - 7:30pm 

Mondays
Neighborhood: Grove Hall - Meeting place: Lila G. Frederick School

Tuesdays
Neighborhood: Bowdoin and Geneva - Meeting place: St. Peter's Teen Center

Wednesdays
Neighborhood: Mattapan - Meeting place: Blue Hill Avenue and Morton Area B3 Police Station

Thursdays
Neighborhood: Mattapan - Meeting Place: Norfolk Park

Fridays
Neighborhood: Roxbury - Meeting Place: Warren Gardens and St. Joseph 12th Baptist Church

Saturdays
Neighborhood: Humbolt Community - Meeting Place: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church

Note: No walk on Labor Day Saturday (9/5/2015) or Monday (9/7/2015)
Contact Rev. Mark Scott at mvscott617@hotmail.com for more information

Mayor Walsh is dedicated to providing safe and secure neighborhoods where every resident can thrive. The Mayor's Office of Public Safety has been actively engaged in our communities to change the trajectory of those involved in driving the violence in our city. Working side by side with a large cross section of City, social service and community based agencies, a wide variety of opportunity driven initiatives have been established; including career paths into the trade unions and other private sector jobs. Among other initiatives, through a new partnership with John Hancock, YouthConnect and the Office of Public Safety, a renewed intense focus will establish a school year based initiative to identify those 11- ­14-year-olds most vulnerable to become involved in high risk behavior in our communities.