Page 52 - June 2017 Newsletter

Keeping the Faith and Action 2017
Department districts across Chicago participated in a citywide event on May 26 that joined together officers, community members and faith leaders.
The gatherings provided an opportunity for interaction and a little fun, while on a mission to create relationships and promote a safe, welcoming environment throughout many of the City’s neighborhoods.
Dreary weather didn’t dampen the spirits of those com- mitted to the cause.
“It rained, but we were out there and got about 200 peo- ple. We did our little prayer and it cleared up. I was like ‘Oh my God! It worked,’” said Margie Reid, community organizer in the 5th District. “We had music, we had pas- tors, we had praying.”
Organizers grilled hot dogs and played games with local children. To prepare for the event, officers cleared a va- cant lot of trees and debris to make way for the festivities
Similar events took place around the City, including in the 4th District, where the food and festivities also in- cluded moments of prayer in which officers and citizens joined one another solemnly.
In the 9th District, a block party on West 48th Street near San Miguel School encouraged people to come to- gether as a village to promote peace.
Some districts, such as the 19th and 20th, held positive loitering gatherings, in which police mingled with the public in a positive show of community engagement.
52 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2017
Officers from the 17th District held an Outdoor Roll Call and then a meet and greet at the Muslim Community Center, 4380 N. Elston Ave., to see how working together ... can make a difference. d