Chicago Pastor Declares 100% Violence-Free Zone After 750-Men South Side Gathering
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 18
Chicago Pastor Declares 100% Violence-Free Zone After 750-Men South Side Gathering
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 18
About 750 men joined Pastor Corey B. Brooks’ “1000 Men Unity Gathering” on Chicago’s South Side, where organizers declared the area around 6620 S. King Drive a 100% violence-free zone.
The pledge is tied to the nearly completed Robert R. McCormick Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center, which Project H.O.O.D. says will fight violence and poverty through job training, mentorship, education and entrepreneurship.
Brooks said the block was labeled Chicago’s most dangerous in a 2014 Chicago Sun-Times report but is no longer among the city’s 35 most dangerous blocks after years of community outreach and investment.
Pastors, fathers, business leaders, activists and former gang members attended, framing the effort as a locally driven model for restoring safety and opportunity in urban neighborhoods beyond Chicago.
When a community declares itself 'violence-free,' what concrete strategies can turn that bold declaration into a lasting reality?
Is restoring fatherhood the ultimate key to ending urban violence, or do deeper economic issues hold the real answer?
Can a Chicago community's self-reliance model become a blueprint for urban renewal in cities worldwide?
Achieving a 52% Drop in Homicides: Project H.O.O.D. and the "100% Violence-Free Zone" Transformation on Chicago’s South Side
Overview
In May 2026, Pastor Corey B. Brooks led a major gathering on Chicago’s South Side, uniting hundreds of men to take a stand against violence. This event laid the groundwork for declaring the area around the new Robert R. McCormick Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center as a '100% Violence-Free Zone.' Once known as one of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods, the community is now leading its own transformation. Project H.O.O.D., founded by Pastor Brooks in 2012, continues to drive this change, showing how local leadership and unity can create a safe and thriving environment for everyone.