March Madness Comes to the South Side Safe Streets Chicago Students Host Basketball Tournament with Chicago Police Officers

Danielle Sanders CNW Managing Editor

Tapping into the excitement of the NCAA’s March Madness tournament starting this week, high school student leaders from “Safe Streets Chicago,” a Student-led public safety coalition that invited officers to play, build relationships & trust with youth & local residents. High school students from Urban Prep Academy, Leo High School, Perspectives Charter Schools, and St. Francis DeSales High School came together to form a grassroots coalition, Safe Streets Chicago, in cooperation with school leaders, parents, block club members and public safety advocates to raise support for residents having a say in how to make their neighborhoods safe from gun violence.

The students were inspired to amplify the work that many of the schools, students and community leaders were doing already in their classrooms, on their blocks and in their neighborhoods to promote modern, innovative strategies to address Chicago’s violent crime epidemic.

Student coalition members meet on a weekly basis at their respective schools to create and discuss ways to collaborate with police and public officials to generate more support for greater investments in public safety technology. Held at Leo Catholic High School, Friday’s event was part of Safe Street Chicago’s mission to forge stronger partnerships between the community and police. Teams blended students and officers together with one student coach and one officer coach working together.

The tournament followed a student tour of the Chicago Police Department 7th District Strategic Decision Support Center where the students engaged in a candid discussion with local district leadership. During the discussion, students sought to gain a better understanding of the strategies, tactics and technologies CPD uses to combat the epidemic of gun violence, such as cameras, helicopters, and gunshot detection software.

Leo HS students, Coby Triplett and Isaiah Knox say touring the facility gave them insight into how CPD protects their communities. “We were able to see firsthand and interact with the police. We saw their technology and how they are working to prevent gun violence”, said Knox. Triplett added the visit and Friday’s game helped erase some of the negative stereotypes he had of police. “So many people stereotype the police and have a bad image of them, but we were able to get to know them and talk to them. Now I can say I know Officer Cox and he knows me. It helps create trust”.

7th District CPD Officer Cox agreed and said that