Kankakee United describes summer youth programs and rapid "peace walks" after shootings

Troy Louie, outreach coordinator for Kankakee United in the City of Kankakee Office of Violence Prevention, presented the group's June–August summer activities at the Oct. 7 public safety meeting.

Louie said the program opened a neighborhood house in June that served as a hub for youth programs and outreach and that Kankakee United ran month-to-month activities including late-night community basketball events, pop-up neighborhood activities and boxing, biking and skating programs to provide safe recreation.

"Our goal was to have these within 24 to 48 hours of any shots fired or any shooting incidents within the community," Louie said, describing the group's rapid-response peace walks after multiple shootings on the East Side and near River Street. He said the walks were intended to show presence, pray and help residents reclaim safe space.

The presentation said Kankakee United partnered with local groups that Louie named in his report, including Live Free and neighborhood faith leaders, and that the organization holds monthly coordination meetings with local stakeholders and staff to align services.

Louie highlighted follow-up with individuals on the group's caseload. "Each of the three of us — Johnny, Rhonda, myself — we have a caseload of either victims or people who have been perpetrators," he said. "Our follow-up and our consistency in supporting those — victims or perpetrators — and to constantly build a relationship with them and engage with them would be our most impact." He said follow-up can continue after six weeks, with weekly or quarterly check-ins and outreach to family members when appropriate.

Aldermen and meeting attendees asked about turnout and coordination with other agencies. Louie said turnout for peace walks has been "quite a few" through partnerships and that the groups try to hold walks within 24–48 hours of an incident. He also said Kankakee United is running a six-week intervention program at the junior high and supports high-school conflict mediation efforts.

Louie said upcoming work includes participation with Cities United in October, support for a mayoral youth advisory board, a teen town hall and other community meetings.

Participants at the meeting praised the work and urged better information-sharing so organizers are alerted promptly after shootings. One attendee who identified with Live Free said they occasionally have to text staff directly to notify them of incidents so a walk can be scheduled within the 24–48 hour window.

The presentation included a dashboard and a spreadsheet Louie said documented the group's summer impact; the committee did not take a formal vote on the presentation.