# Take Back the Block Activation 7.18.25

- Date: July 21, 2025
- Type: Video
- Length: 24:33
- Topic: Other
- Video: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLVttmUYBv4)
- Transcript: Machine transcription, 3,004 words ([text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/youtube/vLVttmUYBv4.txt))
- Mayor: [Brandon Johnson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor)

## Legislation

- [R2026-0023372: Call on Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration to implement Year 2026 budget package](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0023372-call-mayor-brandon-johnson-his-administration)

## Description

Mayor Brandon Johnson attends the Take Back the Block activation.

## Transcript

[4:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=253) Good afternoon. Westside, I know y'all can do better than that. Good afternoon. We're really excited to be here today on the Westside and all the men's war. Thank you for having us. We're going to open up today our take back the block with prayer from Pastor Ira Ackrey. Let us pray. Eternal God, we come as humble as we know how before your presence.

[4:43](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=283) We thank you for this gathering. We thank you for a gathering of business leaders and community leaders, faith leaders and politicians and police. And people of educational realm, we thank you for this collective effort today as we are committed, dear God, to taking back the blocks. We thank you for our mayor and our alderman for leading this initiative and this effort, dear God. We pray that you will continue to bless these communities, and we thank you for how the violence numbers have gone down.

[5:17](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=317) We give you glory for that. and we thank you for this mayor who has not forgotten from where he's come and he's come back home and he's coming back with a good report because we will continue to raise up this next generation to impact our community and change the world one life at a time bless this coming together allowed to be fruitful and productive for our community we ask these blessings in your perfect and majestic name and for our sake

[5:47](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=347) we pray amen Thank you, Pastor. And now I have the pleasure of bringing up an absolute legend, a stalwart of this community, a person who has cared so much about this community and has led to so many changes, the incomparable Alderman, Emma Mitz. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Good evening, everyone. Now, you all know on the west side, we make some noise. West side.

[6:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=384) Come on. Look, they don't like it, but that's all right with me. Look, we may not have all that other communities have, but what we have is each other. And we take it and we make it work for us. Look, I am so grateful for the mayor and his team to put this event on today. We need to talk about resolving the violence in our neighborhood. We need to talk about domestic violence.

[6:56](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=416) Domestic violence, you all. We have got to put back in place that we talk to one another, communicate with one another, disagree to agree at the same time. You know, I found out some statistics today that was alarming when it came to domestic violence. the judge at the domestic violence court says they have over 20,000 cases a year.

[7:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=446) So many, even though they done expanded, I'm saying this because I want you all to pay attention to what's going on around you, in your homes, the children. We don't need to be taking one another life because of domestic violence, right? We can work out our difference with one another. Look, I'm here to thank all of their departments. I don't want to starve because I didn't get to see, but I know I have my police department.

[7:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=479) I have the OMC out here. I know I have Streets and Sand out here. So let me just say to all of those who I've missed, I appreciate you all for coming to our area. We have always been left out. But we don't have to be left out no more because we got a mayor right here with us. And I tell you, we better enjoy it while we have it. Don't take things for granted.

[8:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=511) The mayor is doing some great work. Maybe you all might not see it and you hear things that's going on. But I can tell you, if you just look up and down Chicago Avenue right now, you can see the work that's being put in. You see the change that is being made in our community that has been left out for over the last 20 years since I've been here. I've been an artisan for 26 years, and we are still building and breaking ground every day,

[9:02](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=542) and I like that, cutting ribbons and breaking ground. And I tell that story all the time because that means we are doing something to help our neighborhood out. Now, look, I know we have issues with our fluids out here, but help is on the way. I wouldn't stop talking if it wasn't. And I know the mayor is a man of his word, and I know that we are all working together to bring some resources to us. And that's what I want to see happen in our neighborhood.

[9:34](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=574) And that will happen. So I want to thank all of you. I love you all from the bottom of my heart. I'll let no one say nothing about our community. If you ain't going to help us, you got to get back. You ain't going to come out and give us a hand and help us out. Then don't talk about what we don't have. Because we're struggling trying to make it every day, and then we want to take care of our children. What I see happening in the neighborhood, we are starting to let our children see each and every little thing we say or do.

[10:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=606) I had a five-year-old came out, and she was mad. Stay right next door to me. She was mad, and she said, I feel like I want to use the F word. I said, huh? She said, you don't know what the F word is? I said, no. She said, you don't know how to curse? Everybody in my household curse. Now, look, that's not a good message you want to send for the kids growing up. You want to, you know, when we came up, you got to do your thing.

[10:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=637) Kids stay in their place so you can train them up. They're going to do everything around these kids and allow them to see them and expect them to do great things. Because they're going to do what they see you do. I want to thank you all. God bless all of you. Number love. So thank you, Alderman. It's great. Look, you know, I was about to remind you we were on network TV.

[11:08](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=668) So I know you didn't. So look, I have the pleasure of bringing up the leader of our city who will tell you about the transformations that our city has seen over the last two years. You know, a lot of people talk about it. Right. A lot of people have a lot of opinions on the city of Chicago. But I can tell you what is happening across our city is things that people have never seen or understood before. It's because we have great leadership. So we're going to bring up the mayor of the greatest city in the world, Mayor Brandon Johnson.

[11:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=699) Come on, what's up, West Side? Austin, what's up? It is so good to be with you all today with our Take Back the Block initiative because that's how we are going to build the safest, most affordable big city in America, And that's going block by block to bring hope and inspiration to people across this city. And, of course, we get to jump started off right here on the west side of Chicago. Thank you to Pastor Ackery for your leadership here and your prayers.

[12:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=731) And, of course, to Alderwoman Mitz. Listen, standing alongside of me, we have the full force of government from our CTA to streets and sanitation to OEMC. We also have our business of, what is it called, BACP, thank you. Of course, we have our sergeant, a commander here. All of government is with us today because many of you know I was raised in a big family, and I'm the middle child of 10. And the way I grew up, you never go into a battle by yourself.

[12:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=766) You take everybody with you just in case something really go down. Well, as something is going down, we're bringing the full force of government to help transform our city. And over the course of these last couple of years, we have done so much work, particularly along Chicago Avenue. I want to give a special shout out to Malcolm Crawford, Triple A, B&A, the Soul City Corridor, you all. the streetscapes there and making it more palatable for businesses to grow

[13:17](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=797) and economic development to be able to take place. These are just some of the investments, you all, that we're just getting started with, building more affordable housing all down Chicago Avenue, changing the infrastructure so that families who have been suffering from flooding, we can actually have real structure there to mitigate that flooding. But we're also making sure that we're showing up for people who have been experiencing a great deal of trauma. And as Alderwoman Mintz indicated, that there are still too many people that are being lost, domestic violence.

[13:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=831) And we know there was a tragic fire in our community where members of our community were lost because of domestic violence. When we think about it, we always will remember Brad Cummings and all the lives that were lost there. And so one homicide, one shooting, it's one too many. But because of the critical investments that we're making in Austin, last year, you all, we hired almost 1,700 young people from this very community for summer jobs.

[14:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=863) This year, we have hired 29,000 young people for summer jobs, a 45% increase since I took office. Expanding mental and behavioral health, and again, as we continue to build more affordable housing. And we thank... You know, our business leaders, I want to give a special shout out, of course, to Black Men United and to Apostle Rob Wilkerson and Spill the Beans, you all.

[14:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=895) We are really growing Austin to the neighborhood that we know it can be. But it's going to take all of us, you all. Our work is not done. But because of these critical investments, you all, homicides are down 30, 32 percent, 32 percent homicides are down. Shootings are down 38 percent. Shooting victims are down 40 percent. Robberies are down 44 percent. And that's because the full force of government is showing up each and every single day for the people of this beloved city.

[15:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=928) And so, listen, as we go block by block, I want you all to take the story of inspiration and hope that we can build an economy that works for everyone. And despite the division that has happened at the federal level, we are not going to bend, cower, break, or be intimidated by the authoritarianism and the tyranny that is coming from Donald Trump. Listen, he has met his match in the city of Chicago, right? Because this is a city that can build on reparations and protect people who come from around the world that find refuge here.

[15:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=959) And whether you are an immigrant or you came from Arkansas or Mississippi like me and Emma, you belong in the greatest freaking city in the world, the city of Chicago. Thank you all. God bless you. So thank you, Mayor. That was excellent. And, you know, unfortunately, somebody has to follow that. But fortunately for him, he's from the 15th District. He's done incredible work out in this community. He's been there on the ground for a very long time. We're going to bring up Sergeant Brown to give you a few words.

[16:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1001) Hey, hey, hey. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I want to say welcome all to Austin. We call it Awesome Austin. Without the community, we're nothing. So that being said, to my CVI groups, thank you for the work that you do with us. Thank you. Thank you so much. Commander's not able to be here today, so I'm filling in. So, man, I'm going to share this story. Grade your own paper. It was a young man from Mississippi since you brought Mississippi up

[17:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1032) who wrote a paper about transforming the way packages are delivered. He went to Harvard University. That paper received a C grade. That same paper now is worth $55.3 billion. If you don't know who I'm talking about, I'm talking about Fred Smith, who's founder of FedEx. Don't let anyone else grade your paper. Community, don't let people from the outside grade what we do in Austin.

[17:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1065) We came a long way. I have a great deputy chief, Deputy Chief Parham, who believes in communication and relationships. That's one thing he said. And you know I don't have the energy of Commander Morris. But we are in the greatest community in the city. We only have to say Austin. Thank you, thank you, thank you. All right, they continue to cook. This is great. So now we're going to bring up the Westside NAACP, Janicia Williams. Come on up and give us a word.

[18:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1104) Thank you all. Good afternoon, Westside. Good afternoon, Austin. My name is Janicia Williams, and I am with the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP. And so we are proud to serve as the Austin convener for the People's Plan of Community Safety right here in Austin neighborhood over by Moore Park. And so we work alongside some amazing partners like Anchor Chicago, Jehovah Jireh Outreach Ministry, Violence Interrupters, and NAFI.

[18:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1137) And so all year long, y'all, we've spent time holding safety meetings and events in the Moorpark area just listening, checking in with residents, and finding out what folks need to feel safer and more supported. And you want to know what we keep hearing over and over again? the biggest solution to solving violence in our community isn't complicated it's love we have to love our neighbors not just walk past them we have to love on our young people not fear

[19:29](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1169) them and we have to love ourselves so we can find peace within our neighborhoods and within our blocks. So All your neighbors out here today, tell somebody that you love them before you leave. And before I step from the stage, I want to introduce a neighbor I love, Mr. Soul City himself, Malcolm Crawford. So I'm going to say this, and I need y'all help. All right?

[20:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1200) So when I say soul, I need y'all to say city. And that's everybody. All right? So when I say soul, you say? City. Soul. City. Soul. City. All right. So we say if Chicago can have Greek town and Chinatown and Boystown and Little Italy, the Ukrainian village, then we can have what? Soul City. All right. Soul City is what it is becoming is the place for black economics. When you look up and down Chicago Avenue and the city has put so much resources and energy.

[20:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1235) I don't know if you all saw the little mama statue on Chicago Avenue, the little with the black fist in the air. and our girls can be what they see when you see stuff like that and spill the beans coffee shop that we now i can walk down the street and go get me a cup of coffee and one day i'm gonna work out so i'm gonna go to uh i'm gonna go to tnc fitness and i'm gonna do some work out there and and some other stuff so we got so much coming in our community and i'm excited and i'm always excited about my friend and the reason why i say my friend is because i've been knowing him for many many

[21:09](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1269) many years and so we've been knowing each other so long i don't be trying to look at him because then we start laughing about stuff that we know so we just try to be okay but i tell everybody this is a brother who i love i love with my heart because he's my friend and that's mayor johnson and so he always talked about me playing the playing the uh the organ and now i know he can play the drums, so now we might just have something together, but I just want to thank

[21:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1305) you guys for coming out. Just be on the lookout of what's happening on Chicago Avenue because there's more to come, more streetscape coming, more businesses coming, 40 Acres Fresh Food Market, Black Home Grocery Stores about to open, PNC Bank is opening. We just got more and more to come, so stay put for more to come in our community. All right, and then we're going to bring up Langston Harris from Project Exploration. Come on, my brother.

[22:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1341) Hey, everybody. My name is Langston Harris. I'm the current Austin Safety Liaison for Project Exploration. Pretty much we focus on using out-of-school time to put it into, like, better, like for the MyShot and MyFuture Safe Spaces program. So this summer we pretty much have a lot of opportunities. We had a big, like a wet, we had a water party last Friday. And now actually we got these kids in the back over there, right there.

[22:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1375) Right now they're planning a, we're planning a fashion show in the Taste of Austin coming up. And pretty much we partner with other organizations like the Westside Branch NAACP, 15th District CAPS Office, Bethlehem New Life, and also many more. So these kind of opportunities are the ones that we look forward to building and growing. So definitely come out in support. And we've been passing our flyers, so keep note of the dates coming up. Thank you.

[23:25](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4?t=1405) All right, so look, the mayor brought a lot of resources out here. We want you all to explore every resource we have. We have city agencies, nonprofits, the county, the state, all of these resources ride out. Come back out here. Go around. Help us take back the block. Thank you all.

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/vLVttmUYBv4 · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt