City and County Kickoff Summer of Nonviolence

On Saturday, June 1, the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County along with nearly 200 members of the community kicked off the inaugural Summer of Nonviolence campaign at Pat Hurley Park.

The summer-long initiative encourages youth to take a pledge of nonviolence and offers a series of events throughout the season for young people to have fun and stay safe.

“Our young people are the future of our city, and we believe they deserve more ways to enjoy a fun and safe summer,” says Mayor Tim Keller. “Violence has no place in Albuquerque, and I’m grateful to youth who are stepping up and pledging peace for the good of our community.”

The kickoff event provided free commemorative Summer of Nonviolence t-shirts for youth and adults who took the pledge while food trucks from Los Puchunguis, and With Love Waffles provided complimentary meals to those in attendance.

The New Mexico Crusaders for Justice led a ceremony in remembrance of victims of gun violence where participants placed gun locks on a commemorative gate which will be displayed at future Summer of Nonviolence featured events.

“The youth need more activities so they can be more productive in our society to move on and have a great adult life,” Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen. “We must protect our future.”

From June 1 through September 21, the city and county will be hosting numerous events throughout Bernalillo County as part of the series, providing safe havens for youth.

“It’s very important for our kids to have places to go where they feel safe and give them the opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have,” said Bernalillo County Manager, General Services, Lisa Sedillo-White.

These events encompass a variety of activities, from sports to library programs, outdoor movie screenings, and educational workshops. The Summer of Nonviolence’s goal is to foster peace and community cohesion for youth and families.

We invite all youth to join us in continuing to take the pledge for a Summer of Nonviolence on our dedicated website or at some of our featured events. 

For additional details on the Summer of Nonviolence, you can visit our official website.