Other Highlights
MAYOR ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
City of Los Angeles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2009
CONTACT
David Beltran
(213) 978-0741
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA JOINS SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS’ END OF SUMMER CELEBRATION
All-day event brings together youth from all 16 SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS’ sites to celebrate the end of summer, with sports tournaments, musical entertainment, and free food
LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today joined thousands of youth and families at SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS’ End of Summer Celebration at Jackie Tatum Harvard Recreation Center.
The Mayor was also joined by State Senator Curren Price, Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Jose Huizar.
“Today we celebrated the reclaiming of our parks, and putting them back in the hands of the families they are supposed to serve,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “For two months, our parks have provided an alternative to gang active by creating a hub of hope and opportunity.”
The all-day event brought together youth from SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS’ 16 sites, for an end of summer celebration that emphasized friendship and healthy competition. Participating youth took part in a citywide basketball, soccer, skateboarding, handball and softball tournament, with winning teams receiving trophies and shoes donated by VANS in collaboration with Soles4Souls, Inc.
As part of the celebration, attendees were treated to musical entertainment and activities that include arts and crafts, workshops, dance instruction and a skateboarding tournament. The Hungry Hog was also on hand to serve thousands of free meals for families and youth in attendance.
For the past eight weeks, SUMMER NIGHTS LIGHTS has provided after-school activities, athletic leagues, arts initiatives and family programs at 16 locations in the City’s Gang Reduction and Youth Development zones. The anti-gang initiative keeps City parks open after dark with organized activities for at risk youth, and offers kids job opportunities as well as a safe place to spend the summer.
In its first year of programming, communities around SNL parks experienced a 17% drop in violent gang-related crime, an 86% reduction in homicides and a 23% decrease in aggravated assaults.