08/29/2026
Last year, Turn the Lights On was about one thing: showing what can happen when law enforcement, community organizations, resource providers, and residents all work their side of the problem.
Birmingham has received recognition for the progress made in reducing violence, and that recognition is deserved. But there’s another piece of that story that doesn’t always make the stage.
The community work.
A number of organizations signed on to support the Eastside strategy. When it came time to actually hit the streets week after week, a smaller dedicated group carried that commitment through to the end.
And that's worth acknowledging.
We talked with residents. We listened. We collected data. We provided clothing, food, mental-health first aid, trauma-informed support, referrals, books, personal-care items, and other resources.
Most importantly, we stayed present.
The data showed us just how necessary that presence was.
73.1% of respondents reported being victims of or witnesses to violence.
More than 70% reported exposure to violence. Residents told us clearly that they needed more community support, counseling, youth mentorship, outreach, and resources.
During the coordinated effort, the report also documented a 0.6% reduction in reported violent crime.
Now, we ain't about to jump out there and say, "We did that."
That's not how this works.
But we will say: we were part of that work.
BPD did their part. Community organizations did their part. Resource providers did their part. Residents trusted us enough to do their part.
That's what real collaboration looks like.
So , I want to recognize the folks who were working at ground level — because somebody has to knock on the door, stand in the parking lot, have the difficult conversation, make the referral, listen to that mother, reach that young person, and come back again next Sunday.
That effort matters too.
No shots. No disrespect. Just making sure the whole story gets told.
Because violence reduction isn't one person, one organization, or one department.
It's an ecosystem.
And last year proved that when the ecosystem actually works together, we can move the needle.
To the dedicated organizations, outreach workers, resource providers, residents, and law-enforcement partners who stayed committed to the mission:
We see you. The data sees you. And the work speaks for itself.
Now we're taking what we learned on the Eastside and building something even bigger.
Eastside gave us the proof.
Westside gets the evolution.
Same commitment.
More partners.
More resources.
More coordination.
More community.
We turned the lights on.
Now we keep 'em on.
OPERATION BRIGHTHOUSE2026
EVERY SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER
