The violence that has plagued our most troubled neighborhoods is actually a symptom of a much larger problem: a profound lack of community resources, combined with dearth of employment and woefully underperforming schools, leaving few viable options for our citizens to thrive. This is especially true for our youth, many of whom are left with the belief that engaging in criminal activity is the only viable option for survival.
The epidemic of violence in Chicago has impacted Bill personally. Shaken by the murder of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot 10 feet from his backyard, Bill’s own children compelled him to take an affirmative stand against violence in our communities. From that tragedy was born The It’s Time Organization (TITO), an anti-violence organization addressing youth violence in the 3rd, 4th and 5th Wards; Bill remains the president to this day.
As Commissioner, Bill will:
- Advocate zealously for creation or maintenance of programs that seek to hire youth for the summer and beyond;
- Work to remove barriers to mental health services for our youth, particularly those who have suffered from trauma as a result of experiencing violence first hand.