Summer of Hope
The Summer of Hope is a community-driven initiative organized by SHH that emphasizes peace, joy, and opportunity. By partnering with local organizations and hosting various events, Summer of Hope seeks to positively influence neighborhoods, streets, and families affected by violence. In its 2023 edition, the series, lasting 15 weeks, revolved around the central theme of "Peace Over Everything."
To implement these 15 weeks of pop-up events, our team developed a network of ambassadors for the Summer of Hope. We organized, trained, and coordinated these ambassadors, who dedicated over 517 hours to the "Peace Pit Stop" pop-ups from May to September. This activation was designed to resemble a neighborhood corner store or "bodega." Visitors to the store were encouraged to participate in surveys or video questionnaires in exchange for merchandise promoting the "Peace Over Everything" theme. These surveys served as key discussion points and provided the city of Baton Rouge with valuable insights regarding public perceptions of crime.
During Summer of Hope, 51 community events featured the POE Peace Pit Stop, which engaged over 2,887 individuals. Results from the surveys and questionnaires indicated that most participants felt safe in their neighborhoods, 61% expressed pride in being from Baton Rouge, and many agreed that leaders should prioritize crime prevention. The Summer of Hope Ambassador program also provided summer employment and leadership development opportunities for local youth and residents. Efforts under the Peace Over Everything initiative contributed to a reduction in crime and violence in the city. Notably, from July 27 to August 26, there were 31 consecutive days without homicides, the longest stretch without such incidents since 2017. Furthermore, August recorded only 15 incidents of gun violence, the lowest in a month since 2019. Through the SHH initiative, events like Summer of Hope are utilized to collect data that aids in shaping public policy and programming. Click here to discover more about SHH's impact in Baton Rouge.