EAST GARFIELD PARK — Antonio Davis decided he'd leave the street life behind after his first son was born.
Davis, a 27-year-old ex-gang member, didn't want to constantly be looking over his shoulder in fear.
"The birth of my son woke me up,"Davis said. "He made me realize I was responsible for another life."
Shortly after, Davis founded Paving the Way, a series of educational forums and programs aimed at sharing information with participants to prevent violence and improve community relations among residents in Washington Park.
On Friday, Davis and other members of Paving the Way were among several community members, faith-based leaders and aldermen to join Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the Garfield Park Field House to kick off a "A Summer of Faith and Action," a citywide effort to curb violence throughout the city.
Emanuel stood with Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy and asked for community members, elected officials and faith-based leaders to come together to stop the violence and build a better future for all neighborhoods in Chicago.
"If we are going to build a future, all parts of the city have to be involved in building that future, and no side — South Side, West Side, Southwest Side —is left out of that future," Emanuel said.
"The summer is coming, and it's going to be warm," Emanuel said. "I'll submit to you, It's not about how warm the weather inside, it has more to do with whether you have values inside.
When the mayor launched "A Summer of Faith and Action" last year, he saw a much smaller crowd of people gathered at the steps of the Garfield Park Field House, Emanuel recalled.
"I see today a different vision of the city where everyone has a chance and everyone knows that if a child in Roseland is lost, Ravenswood is hurt," Emanuel said. "If we have that feeling across the city we have a bright future. Let's dedicate ourselves to bringing our streets back to the proper people they belong to."
The Rev. Robbie Wilkerson, a pastor in Austin, lauded the mayor's collaborative efforts to curb the violence in the South and West sides.
"We appreciate you reaching out to develop a plan with us, rather than a plan for us," Wilkerson said.
Jessica Disu, a community activists and rapper, said she was excited to be apart of this year's Summer of Faith and Action initiative after last year's success.
"Last year's event brought together community leaders, faith leaders, youth and young activists like myself together," Disu said. "Peace is possible, with proactive efforts like this [our communities and youths] will continue to be empowered."
"I'm really glad the mayor called for [people to put down their guns], and gave our communities something to pick up like hope, like faith in action," Disu said.
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