Mayor Cavalier Johnson spent Friday morning with students and city partners at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, kicking off the fourth annual Milwaukee Peace Week and setting the tone for a citywide push against violence. The weeklong campaign, which starts Monday, is designed to prevent violence, deepen neighborhood ties and rebuild trust between residents and police, with events built around young people’s voices and connections to mentors, services and community supports.
According to the City of Milwaukee, MKE Peace Week runs May 18 to 23 and opens with a youth listening session called “Real Talk with 414 Youth” on Monday at 5 p.m. at the Neu-Life Community Development Center. The official calendar highlights panel discussions, a reentry and opportunity night, volunteer cleanup efforts and an Annual Peace March & Games that will close out the week.
As reported by WISN, Milwaukee Police data through Wednesday show 37 homicides and 127 non-fatal shootings so far this year, and a Milwaukee Public Schools spokesperson told the station that 12 students have died from gun violence since last July. Those sobering figures framed remarks at the kickoff as city leaders pushed for mentoring, restorative practices and deeper investments in neighborhoods.
Full week lineup
The schedule for the week includes “Back 2 Block: Reentry & Opportunity Night” at City Hall and “Breaking Down Bullets,” a panel at Sherman Phoenix that will bring survivors, advocates and law enforcement into the same room. The calendar also calls for a coordinated volunteer cleanup day and the Annual Peace March & Games at Mitchell Park, according to TMJ4.
Youth voices front and center
Organizers stressed that students are not just in the audience this year. Young people helped lead a collaborative peace mandala at the kickoff and are slated to take part in listening sessions and mentorship programs throughout the week. “Real peace takes all of us,” a speaker said at the event, per WISN.
Why leaders say this matters
Leaders point to persistent violence in the city as the backdrop for Peace Week. Wisconsin Public Radio reported that Milwaukee recorded 142 homicides in 2025, up from 132 in 2024, based on police data. City officials say Peace Week is meant to pair immediate supports, such as job connections and neighborhood cleanups, with longer-term prevention efforts led by the Office of Violence Prevention and community partners.
Coverage by the Milwaukee Community Journal noted remarks from Milwaukee Public Schools officials and community partners at the kickoff, and organizers are urging residents to follow the week’s schedule and local events calendars for details on how to take part. For invite-only sessions, the city lists a contact in the mayor’s office on its events page.
