In a bold initiative to curb violence and transform a once notorious part of Chicago, a local pastor united hundreds of men on the city’s South Side this past Sunday. The gathering aimed at reclaiming the neighborhood’s safety and vitality.
Pastor Corey B. Brooks, along with Project H.O.O.D., orchestrated the “1000 Men Unity Gathering” at the nearly finished Robert R. McCormick Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center located at 6620 S. King Drive. During the event, they ambitiously declared the surrounding community a “100% violence-free zone.”
“This initiative transcends the mere construction of a building,” Brooks emphasized. “Our goal is to foster a culture where men unite to safeguard families, mentor the youth, diminish violence, and lay a foundation that will endure for generations.”
He further stated, “We are asserting that this community is entitled to peace, opportunities, and hope.”
The gathering saw a diverse assembly including pastors, fathers, mentors, activists, business figures, former gang affiliates, and residents from all over Chicago. Organizers highlighted it as a collective effort to enhance safety, foster responsibility, and create opportunities in the South Side.
Brooks shared with Fox News Digital that around 750 men participated in the event, committing themselves to uphold the neighborhood as a secure and nurturing environment for families and children.
“We declared that this is going to be a peace zone, a nonviolent zone, a violence-free zone,” Brooks said. “So the young kids can come to the center and have peace of mind knowing they don’t have to worry about their safety.”
The Robert R. McCormick Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center is designed to address violence and poverty through workforce development, mentorship, education, entrepreneurship, job training and community engagement, according to Project H.O.O.D.
Attendees received an early look inside the facility Sunday as organizers outlined plans for the center to serve future generations on Chicago’s South Side.
Brooks said the neighborhood surrounding the center was once considered one of the most dangerous areas in Chicago.
“In 2014, the Chicago Sun-Times wrote an article saying this was the most dangerous neighborhood in all Chicago, and it happened to be this block,” Brooks told Fox News Digital. “So, we decided to transform it, and that’s what’s been happening.”
The area is no longer ranked among Chicago’s 35 most dangerous blocks, which Brooks attributed to ongoing community investment and outreach efforts.
He founded Project H.O.O.D. — Helping Others Obtain Destiny — to reduce violence and poverty on Chicago’s South Side through mentorship, faith, workforce training and economic development initiatives.
Brooks said he hopes the project can serve as a national model for urban communities seeking long-term change.
“I think this center is going to be an example of what we can do across America in urban areas,” Brooks said. “If we don’t wait on government and take responsibility for ourselves, we can change the trajectory of these neighborhoods and urban centers.”
