On a South Side block that has seen more than its share of heartbreak, hundreds of men stood shoulder to shoulder on Sunday and vowed to draw a line in the concrete. Their promise: keep the streets around a nearly finished community center free of violence.
The crowd, made up of fathers, pastors, mentors, former gang members, and neighborhood leaders, gathered outside the Robert R. McCormick Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center to declare the surrounding block a violence-free zone and to get an early look inside the facility.
According to Project H.O.O.D., the "1000 Men Unity Gathering" took place Sunday, May 17, at 6620 S. King Drive. As Fox News reported, Pastor Corey B. Brooks said roughly 750 men showed up, and organizers declared the surrounding block a "100% violence-free zone."
What the center will do
Organizers describe the Robert R. McCormick Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center as a one-stop hub for workforce development, mentorship, education, and entrepreneurship, all aimed at tackling poverty and shootings in Woodlawn. Block Club Chicago reported that the McCormick Foundation donated $8 million to the project and secured naming rights to the nearly 85,000-square-foot facility.
The idea is straightforward, even if the work is not: give residents real access to jobs, training, and support so the block is known more for opportunity than for crime scenes.
Brooks' long campaign
Pastor Brooks is no stranger to dramatic gestures when it comes to fundraising. Project H.O.O.D. notes he once spent 94 days living on a rooftop to draw attention to violence and poverty, turning a publicity stunt into a marathon of organizing and fundraising. His ongoing campaigns, including a national "Walk Across America" effort, are aimed at finishing the center and expanding programming.
The approach has been unconventional at times, but it has kept the spotlight on the same core message: the neighborhood is not giving up on itself.
What a "violence-free zone" means
The "violence-free zone" label is not just a catchy slogan. It echoes an intervention model that pairs mentorship and job training with on-the-ground outreach to steer young people away from gangs and crime. The National Gang Center describes Violence-Free Zones as a promising community-based strategy that has been used in cities from Washington, D.C., to Indianapolis and Los Angeles.
Organizers say Sunday’s declaration is meant to be a starting gun, not a victory lap. They plan mentorship sign-ups, neighborhood outreach, and steady programming once the center is fully staffed. Brooks summed up the mission plainly: "This is bigger than a building," he told Fox News, calling for a culture shift that keeps children safe and connects residents to jobs and mentorship.
