illi News - Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson, Mayor's Office Of Community Safety Launch Late Night Video Games Series

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CHICAGO — Tonight, Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Mayor's Office of Community Safety (MOCS), and Chicago Public Library (CPL) are launching the Late Night Video Game Series. This community safety initiative is designed to create safe, welcoming spaces for youth and families in communities most impacted by violence. The event will take place tonight from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. at CPL's Kelly Branch in Englewood. Three additional programs are scheduled for select weekend nights throughout the fall and winter.

"This summer was one of Chicago's safest in decades thanks to community and youth-centered events like Late Night Basketball and Take Back the Block," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "The Late Night Video Games Series builds upon this work by engaging our young people in safe spaces, with community, at a critical time. My administration continues to invest in our young people through employment, recreational, and educational programming as part of our work to build a safer city for every Chicagoan."

"I'm thrilled that the 20th Ward will be the host of September's Late Night Video Game event—a powerful opportunity to provide our youth with a safe, positive space to connect with each other and simply be kids," said Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor. "Investing in initiatives like this is how we build stronger communities and prevent violence before it starts."

A component of Mayor Johnson and MOCS' People's Plan for Community Safety, Late Night Video Game Night will bring gaming and entertainment into neighborhood spaces during high-risk evening hours. This initiative reflects the City's commitment to expanding safe and fun activities during hours of expected upticks in violence, while strengthening partnerships between residents, community leaders, and public safety partners.

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"Late Night Video Game Night is an initiative designed with community and shows what happens when we work with residents and respond with solutions that meet people where they are," said Garien Gatewood, Deputy Mayor of Community Safety. "By keeping doors open and lights on later in the night, we're creating more opportunities for connection, fun, and safety during hours when it matters most."

Each Late Night Video Game Night will offer free food, access to gaming consoles and accessories, and giveaways for participants in addition to on-site community safety resources. The series follows a successful pilot event held in Garfield Park in August which was attended by more than 75 youth and members of their family.

Each event will be led by a partner community organization and the local Chicago Police Department (CPD) District. Tonight's event in Englewood was made possible through committed partnership between MOCS, Teamwork Englewood and the 7th Police District. Teamwork Englewood is a community non-profit which seeks to unite the community organizations, faith-based institutions, and businesses serving Englewood to catalyze positive community change, focused on safety and the promotion of healthy lifestyles for all residents.

"With our T.I.M.E. community safety initiative, we prove that safety isn't just about preventing harm, it's about giving our young people time to dream, connect, and just enjoy being kids," said Tametrius Files, Community Public Safety Manager at Teamwork Englewood. "Having fun is community safety."

The Late Night Video Game series is made possible through partnership with the Chicago Public Library, which is providing space, staff support, and its trusted neighborhood branches to help bring the programs to life. As anchors in every community, libraries offer safe, welcoming environments that connect young people and families to opportunities and each other.

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"Libraries have always been trusted spaces where young people can gather, learn, and connect," said Library Commissioner Chris Brown. "By opening our doors later into the night, we are extending that promise of safety and belonging into hours when it matters most. Late Night Video Game Night reflects our commitment to meeting youth where they are with opportunities for creativity, connection, and joy."

The video game equipment is made available by I Play Games, a local organization which helps host community video game events and tournaments.

"Late Night Video Game is a fun event for gamers of all ages and tastes! In addition to all of the video and board games, we are adding a Street Fighter 2 Invitational tournament!" said Kevin Fair, CEO and Founder at I Play Games. "Eight professional gamers from all over the city will be competing for the honor of being the City's best Street Fighter 2 player live on twitch.TV/ipg_esports."

Late Night Video Game Night is building off the success of the Late Night Basketball series. Over 750 residents attended at least one of the 13 "Late Night Basketball" events the Mayor's Office hosted over the summer. By opening local gyms after hours, the activations created safe and welcoming public spaces for Chicago residents during holiday weekends when violence historically spikes. In addition to offering recreational opportunities, Late Night Basketball helped connect young people with vital resources and positive adult role models.

In surveys, participants shared that Late Night Basketball gave them something safe and positive to do on a weekend night and reported feeling safer in their neighborhood due to the programs.

Englewood residents and Chicagoans from across the city are invited to attend tonight's Late Night Video Game Night at the Kelly Branch Library, 6151 S. Normal Blvd. Please note, all minors must be accompanied by an adult. Additional site locations and event schedules will be released in the coming weeks.

Filed Under: Government, City

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