Safe & Sound Summer Kickoff promotes involvement in community activities to combat youth crime

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Mayor Cavalier Johnson says he's taking measures to try and dissuade young people from perpetuating another violent summer in Milwaukee.

This comes as the warm weather has already welcomed a number of gun violence incidents involving teenagers.

At Safe & Sound's Safe Summer Kickoff Saturday morning, the mayor addressed the matter.

"There's so many community resources here today from the Milwaukee Public Library to Owens place to the Boys and Girls Club being really thoughtful about how can we get people involved? How can we get young people excited," said Bridget Whitaker, Safe & Sound executive director.

Whitaker says Safe & Sound acts as a one stop shop for parents and young people from across Milwaukee to find summer activities and programs that are positive.

At the event Saturday, kids enjoyed food, music and fun with various organizations from the community.

Whitaker says positive involvement will be available all summer long if you give Safe & Sound a call.

"We are hoping that young people will join us today to make a pledge to say that I will not engage in activities that are not safe," said Whitaker.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson says Safe & Sound's efforts to offer alternatives are combined with efforts from the Milwaukee police as well.

Mayor Johnson pointed to measures recently taken to impound vehicles used in reckless driving as their latest effort to fight back against dangerous crime in the city.

He had this to say to young people ahead of the summer:

"Look, you've got a choice," said Johnson. "Either you can come here and be a part of these positive youth serving organizations with Safe & Sound, or you go the wrong way and there's the enforcement route too. We would much rather than folks joined us on this side of the equation and participated in the programs offered by organizations like Safe & Sound all throughout the city."

Police say they don't want to have to rely on enforcement to keep Milwaukee safe, however.

"To all our youths, parents and guardians' reactions to participants is positive to summer and spread the word by encouraging others to do the same," said Assistant Chief Steve Johnson, Milwaukee Police Department.

"Being a single mom, I know […] how important it is to have a plan for the summer. And so here at Safe & Sound we tried to be really thoughtful about what that looks like," said Whitaker.