LISTEN: Streets, Beatz & Peace Podcast Explores Chicago ‘Teen Trends’ with MPI Executive Director Vaughn Bryant and CPD Director of Community Policing Glen Brooks
The Streets, Beatz & Peace Podcast is back with a special edition episode focusing on the recent rise of “teen trends,” or large gatherings of young people throughout Chicago’s beaches and neighborhoods, and how Community Violence Intervention (CVI) organizations collaborate with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to make our streets safer this summer.
The episode is the first in a special series focused on teen trends, and is guest hosted by Executive Director of Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) Vaughn Bryant, who is joined by CPD Director of Community Policing Glen Brooks.
“These gatherings, while innocent in theory, have lead to disruption in communities, destruction of property, dozens of arrests and senseless violence,” Bryant shares at the beginning of the episode. “As we head into the summer, a time when we historically see a spike in gun violence, city officials, organizations, residents, and the youth themselves are exploring the most effective tactics to reducing chaos, harm, and the potential for dangerous situations.”
Bryant and Brooks both emphasized the right of young people to gather in our city and enjoy all the city has to offer, but also described how critical it is to prepare and deploy several deescalation tactics when managing large gatherings, including CPD cooperation with local CVI organizations.
“We really want to keep order and keep people safe,” said Brooks. “What we’re trying to do is ensure that the behavior doesn’t cross over to criminal.”
Brooks calls the current CPD approach to teen trends “deliberate and layered.” “The police are going to be there—we have a tremendous role to play and we’re going to take action when necessary,” he says. “But we need CVI there to have a different voice. We need educators there. We need representatives from our schools, and eagerly as important, we need parents there.”
“We are all for civil gatherings,” continues Bryant. “We want [young people] to have a good time in public spaces. To have a good time in our city is something we promote. We just want them to do it in a safe way.”