Mastasio Tolar (left) and Charles Jefferson and Robert Bost (on the right) are ETHS students and participants in the Y.O.U. Peace Campaign. Nick Cardelli, Y.O.U. staff, and Shannon Stipp, ETHS student, are in the center.

 

The City observed National Night Out on Aug. 4, with neighborhood groups sponsoring barbeques, entertainment, walks or even a positive presence at 17 locations throughout the community, in a show of solidarity against crime and anti-social activities. The gatherings ranged from small groups to several hundred people at

Church Street

and

Dodge Avenue

.

 

At the Church/Dodge location, before a vigil was held to honor 44 persons who have lost their lives to violence in Evanston, persons talked and enjoyed a barbeque dinner and entertainment.

 

Fifth Ward Alderman Delores Holmes said the vigil was held to remember and discourage senseless violence.

 

Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said she was a softball coach for some of the victims. “They lost lives that had many promises,” she said.

 

Charles Jefferson, an Evanston Township High School student and participant in

Y.O.U.’s Peace Campaign, was one of the speakers at Church and Dodge. He said, “We believe that youth can better receive the message of non-violence from people closer in age.” He said the Peace Campaign is working “to keep the message of peace and non-violence fresh in people’s minds throughout the summer months. Our main goal is to promote non-violence to today’s youth.”