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High Hope Freeport launches "40 Days of Peace" initiative; organizers and critics clash at council meeting
Summary
William Brown presented a 40‑day community violence reduction plan called "40 Days of Peace and Community Building," detailing cleanup events, youth programs and resource block parties; Brown and resident Wendy Pearson publicly disagreed over earlier marches, and several council members and residents spoke in support of the initiative.
William Brown, founder of High Hope Freeport, used public comment time to lay out a multi-part plan called “40 Days of Peace and Community Building,” saying the initiative will focus on beautification, youth programming and resource block parties to address root causes of violence.
Brown, who described his personal history and work with youth, said the initiative will include neighborhood cleanups, basketball tournaments, “church in the streets,” and resource block parties that collect community input. He listed sponsors for the initiative — FHN, M45 Marketing, Walmart and Faith Center — and said the effort is funded by sponsors, T-shirt fundraising and community donations, not by the mayor or the city.
“Not 1 initiative, not 1 plan will help us resolve the community violence problem that we have,” Brown said. “What will is unity.” He emphasized a community-based approach and said the effort will collect surveys at block parties to evaluate outcomes and connect residents to services.
The presentation generated an on‑record response from Wendy Pearson, who said she attended other marches and criticized the first march as ineffective because it did not reach neighborhoods where shootings had occurred. “The first March was a joke,” Pearson said during public comment, while adding that she had supported other efforts and would support effective anti-violence work.
Why it matters: Brown’s initiative addresses ongoing concerns about youth violence in Freeport and proposes community-led interventions. Council members and residents expressed both support for the goal of reducing violence and frustration about political division that, Brown said, distracts from community needs.
Outcome and next steps: Brown invited council members and residents to participate in activities, including an upcoming Boys & Girls Club event and coaching opportunities for a youth basketball league. No formal council action was taken; the presentation was part of the public-comment record.
