The city of Phoenix, including Mayor Phil Gordon and Council members Michael Johnson and Michael Nowakowski, in conjunction with Phoenix Police Department, ATF, the Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office and Silent Witness, have joined forces to initiate a grassroots campaign aimed at reducing violent crimes in four selected neighborhoods in the South Mountain area.

Spearheading the effort is Arizonans for Gun Safety, a nonprofit, community-based organization dedicated to reducing gun deaths and injuries. In addition, several private individuals and companies have pledged their support, including APS, Jerry Colangelo, Gust Rosenfeld, Phoenix Community Alliance, SRP, the Arizona Republic and La Voz.

This theme of this grassroots effort is “Take Back Your Neighborhood, Prevent Gun Violence.” The four-week campaign will take place in June and will consist of bilingual media elements, including live radio broadcasts and public service announcements, newspaper ads, billboards and poster boards. In addition, a strong public relations campaign and grassroots efforts, including community events, will further promote the message within selected neighborhoods.

Campaign Dates: June 2-29, 2008

Key Neighborhoods

The campaign will focus on four distinct neighborhoods with a disproportionate amount of gun violence. These neighborhoods and their boundaries are:

• 7/11 Fight Back (7th Avenue to 15th Avenue; Buckeye Road to I-17)
• Lindo Park (19th Avenue to 23rd Avenue; Roeser Road to Southern Avenue)
•South Vista (12th Street to 16th Street; Roeser Road to Southern Avenue)
• Hermoso Park (16th Street to 24th Street; Vineyard Road to Broadway Road)

Partners

• Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon
• Michael Johnson, Phoenix City Councilmember, District 8
• Michael Nowakowski, Phoenix City Councilmember, District 7
• Phoenix Police Department
• Neighborhood Services Department
• Neighborhood Renewal Task Force • Arizonans for Gun Safety

Presented By:

• U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
• U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona
• Phoenix Fire Department
• Silent Witness

Sponsored By:

• APS
• Gust Rosenfeld
• Jerry Colangelo
• Phoenix Community Alliance
• SRP
• The Arizona Republic
• La Voz

Campaign Elements

Each week the campaign will include bilingual media and grassroots outreach:

• Press conferences with partner representatives
• Placement of select news stories on television, radio and in print
• Weekly door-hanger campaign with customized messages
• Billboard and poster board campaigns in key areas
• Radio campaign including public service messages and live broadcasts on Radio Compensina and Univision stations
• Print ads promoting select messages in The Arizona Republic and La Voz
• Posters and event fliers
• Community events
• Distribution of 600 free gun locks
• Web site (takebackyourneighborhood.com will be up on June 4, 2008) and general information phone number (602.222.4300 will be up on June 4, 2008)

June 2-8 General introduction of campaign
A major press conference with all partners will kick-off this multifaceted campaign. In addition, a bilingual media campaign will launch the promotion of initiatives surrounding the June “Take Back Your Neighborhood” project.

Introductory press conference: Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 10 a.m.

June 9-15 Steps to Stop Gun Violence Walk
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008, from 7 a.m.-10 a.m.
Location: One-mile walk will begin in Lindo Park (2230 W. Roeser Road, Phoenix, AZ 85041)

This grassroots campaign will begin with Steps to Stop Gun Violence Walk in Lindo Park. The walk will be led by faith-based communities in the four selected neighborhoods, and culminate with a free breakfast and the distribution of free gun locks and commemorative T-shirts.

June 16-22 Job Fair & Neighborhood Clean-Up
This campaign will focus on the importance of residents taking charge of their lives. This grassroots effort will include two job fairs and a neighborhood clean-up effort designed to generate community involvement.

Take Charge of Your LIfe Job Fairs

• Location: Emmett McLoughlin Community Training and Education Center (1150 S. 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007)
• Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
• Time: 9 a.m.-Noon

• Location: Travis L. Williams Family Service Center (4732 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040)
• Date: Thursday, June 19, 2008
• Time: 9 a.m.-Noon

Neighborhood Clean-Up Event
Presented by City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services DepartmentLocation: Hermosa & Chula Vista Neighborhoods
Date: Saturday, June 21, 2008
Time: 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
Meeting location: Hermoso Park, 2030 E. Southern Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040

June 23-29Phoenix Police Department’s Gun Buy-Back Program
The Phoenix Police Department will host an anonymous “no questions asked” gun buy-back program in the four selected neighborhoods. Residents will be asked to turn in guns in exchange for a gift card to a local grocery store. The program will culminate with a large community celebration.

Date: Saturday, June 28, form 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The event will be staffed by the Phoenix Police Department in the following locations:

7/11 Fight Back
St. John Institutional Baptist Church
1428 S. 13th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Lindo Park
First New Life Missionary Baptist Church
1902 W. Roeser Road, Phoenix, AZ 85041

South Vista
Southern Avenue Missionary Baptist Church
1330 E. Southern Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040

Hermoso Park
South Phoenix Missionary Baptist Church
2006 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040

Phoenix Police Department
South Mountain Precinct
400 W. Southern Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85041

Celebration of “Take Back Your Neighborhood” Month
Time: Saturday, June 28, 2008, from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. 
Location: South Mountain Community Center
Activities include: Music & food