Summer Nights program kicks off Boston's anti-violence push

BOSTON — The state’s Summer Nights program is kicking off in communities across the state and it's aimed at curbing gang and gun violence.

From Boston to Holyoke, the state is teaming up with community organizations to give at-risk young people access to positive evening programs.

FOX25 ran the numbers and found youth violence spikes in the summertime and Boston has seen six homicides this summer, with a third of those victims under 21 -- including the high profile shooting death of Dorchester teen Raekwon Brown.

"If we do a better job of giving kids positive alternatives, in the end that will be a good thing," Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker said. "But this is the sort of thing I think we should be doing anyway.”

Former gang member turned community activist Leroy Peeples founded Prevention-intervention-Mediation, or PIM, to break the cycle of kids joining gangs.

"I didn't raise my hand and say, 'Hey! Put me in.' It happened because I lived right there," Peeples said. "And I'm like third, fourth generation, so to come back, it shows you can break the generational cycle -- you just have to do it."

PIM is joining a half dozen grassroots groups in the stat's program.

"Being engaged. Knowing your neighbor. Putting these kids together so they can become friends before they become enemies. You can't put a price on that," Peeples said.

You can find a full list of Summer Nights events here.

Cox Media Group