Increase The Peace

Increase The Peace Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Increase The Peace, Community Organization, Chicago, IL.

is an organization that develops young leaders and promotes peace through leadership development, community organizing, and advocating for solutions that tackle the root causes of violence.

7th Annual Black & Brown Unity Cookout🗓 Friday, June 5 | 6:00 PM�📍 West of the MLK Jr. Memorial (67th & Kedzie)Seven yea...
06/03/2026

7th Annual Black & Brown Unity Cookout
🗓 Friday, June 5 | 6:00 PM�📍 West of the MLK Jr. Memorial (67th & Kedzie)

Seven years strong. What started as a response to tension has grown into a tradition of solidarity, joy, and deep community love. As we enter the summer, we’re coming together to strengthen relationships, look out for one another, and create safer, more connected blocks. In the face of violence, displacement, and division, we choose community. We choose care. We choose each other.

This year, out of an abundance of care for our neighbors and community safety, we’ve decided to replace the parade with a cookout. Our goal remains the same: bringing people together, building relationships, and creating a welcoming space where everyone can connect and celebrate.

🚴🏾‍♀️🚴🏽‍♂️ The Gage Park Cyclists will also be leading a community bike ride to Marquette before the cookout. More details coming soon!

✨ Bring your family, friends, lawn chairs, and positive energy!
🤝 Connect with neighbors, community organizations, and local leaders committed to keeping our communities strong and safe.
📣 Spread the word. Show up. Show love.

🤜🏿🤛🏽� � �

Last week Thursday we conducted another NVRRT training ✊🏽Thank you to Yollocalli for opening up your beautiful space to ...
05/31/2026

Last week Thursday we conducted another NVRRT training ✊🏽

Thank you to Yollocalli for opening up your beautiful space to us. While ICE agents may not be as visibly present as they were during the Midway Blitz, these operations are still happening, which means now is exactly the time to learn safety protocols, documentation practices, Know Your Rights, and how to respond as a community.

These trainings are about keeping each other safe, informed, and prepared. ❤️

Last week, our Executive Director Monse Ayala joined community leaders, outreach workers, healers, institutions, and cit...
05/26/2026

Last week, our Executive Director Monse Ayala joined community leaders, outreach workers, healers, institutions, and city partners at the Summer Safety Press Conference + Mental Health Activation hosted by Precious Blood Ministries of Reconciliation (PBMR) 🤍

Alongside the Mayor’s office, violence prevention organizations, local leaders across Chicago, the conversation focused on what it truly means to create a safe summer for our young people and families.

At ITP, we believe summer safety is about more than enforcement, community care is violence prevention too.

As our communities continue navigating violence, mental health struggles, fear within immigrant communities, disconnection, and the lasting impacts of COVID, we all have a role to play. The way we support our neighbors, show up for young people, and create spaces where people feel safe, seen, and connected matters deeply.

Thank you to PBMR and all the partners who made this space possible. Let’s continue building a summer rooted in peace, healing, safety, and community 🫶🏽

🚨 LAST CALL:PLEASE SHARE 🚨Increase The Peace Chicago is still accepting applications for our Summer 2026 After School Ma...
05/20/2026

🚨 LAST CALL:PLEASE SHARE 🚨

Increase The Peace Chicago is still accepting applications for our Summer 2026 After School Matters program, but spots are filling up FAST 🙌🏽

💰 Paid opportunity for teens ages 14–18
📍 Gage Park, Back of the Yards, Southwest Side
🗓️ June 22 – August 7

Leadership, field trips, community outreach, beautification projects & more ✨

⚠️ Reminder: Applying does NOT guarantee acceptance. All applicants must complete an interview process.

‼️ LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE ‼️

‼️REMINDER: CALL TO ACTION‼️Join us THIS Thursday, May 21st for our Nonviolence Rapid Response Training with  ! ✨This tr...
05/20/2026

‼️REMINDER: CALL TO ACTION‼️

Join us THIS Thursday, May 21st for our Nonviolence Rapid Response Training with ! ✨

This training is rooted in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s principles of nonviolence and will focus on building community, preparedness, and collective care through rapid response practices.

Refreshments and snacks will be provided (first come, first serve). 💛

🚨 COMMUNITY SUPPORT REQUEST 🚨Were you or someone you know physically harmed or injured during the Midway Blitz operation...
05/17/2026

🚨 COMMUNITY SUPPORT REQUEST 🚨

Were you or someone you know physically harmed or injured during the Midway Blitz operations that took place during September - December 2025?

We are helping connect impacted community members with an attorney to file a lawsuit against ICE/CBP. Attorneys are currently looking to speak with 2–3 individuals who have ALL information below:

📹 Video evidence only
🚔 License plate information from ICE/CBP vehicles
📝 Recordings of the incident

If this is you or someone you trust, please DM us. All conversations will be handled with care and confidentiality 🤍

Please share with trusted community members.

Last week, our Executive Director Monse Ayala spent 3 days in Berkeley, California at the 2nd Annual Latine Convening on...
05/15/2026

Last week, our Executive Director Monse Ayala spent 3 days in Berkeley, California at the 2nd Annual Latine Convening on Gun Violence alongside organizers, researchers, advocates, healers, and community leaders from across the country working toward safer and healthier communities. 🤎

The convening created space for honest conversations around gun violence prevention, healing, immigration, systemic inequities, and what it means to build real safety rooted in community care.

As ITP Chicago, it was powerful to both share about the work happening on the Southwest Side and learn from others leading this work nationwide, reminding us that our communities are not alone in this fight.

Huge thank you to the Latine Coalition, Community Justice Action Fund, Hope and Heal Fund, and Mamas Con Poder (Moms Rising) for bringing people together to connect, strategize, and continue building toward lasting change. Spaces like these are needed!✨

We’re excited to share that we officially wrapped up our spring programs 💛Over the past few months, more than 30 youth f...
05/14/2026

We’re excited to share that we officially wrapped up our spring programs 💛

Over the past few months, more than 30 youth from Back of the Yards, Gage Park, Englewood, and surrounding communities came together to build relationships, grow as leaders, and strengthen their commitment to community.

As we move into the second half of the year and prepare for summer programming, our youth took time to reflect on their goals, dreams, and what they want the next 6 months to look like by creating vision boards together. ✨

From personal growth and wellness to community impact and future careers, our youth continue to show up with intention, creativity, and care for the people around them.

We’re proud to continue supporting and investing in young leaders as they grow into changemakers within their communities. 🌱

Two weeks ago, our ITP young leaders showed up with purpose 💥 They shared Know Your Rights + Short-Term Guardianship res...
05/11/2026

Two weeks ago, our ITP young leaders showed up with purpose 💥 They shared Know Your Rights + Short-Term Guardianship resources, cleaned up their blocks, connected with neighbors across the Southwest Side, and submitted CHI311 requests for potholes and damaged sidewalks to help make our communities safer and stronger.

This is leadership. This is community in action. ✨

Huge thanks to Southwest Organizing Project, Chicago CRED, CP4P, Gage Park Public Library, the Office of Alderwoman Jeylu Gutierrez, the Office of Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya, and the Office of State Representative Aaron M. Ortiz for building alongside us and showing what collaboration across the Southwest Side can look like.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, supported, and moved with us in community. 💛

Such a powerful night at our first Poetry Open Mic at Back of the Yards Coffeehouse 🩶Over 40 folks came through to share...
05/05/2026

Such a powerful night at our first Poetry Open Mic at Back of the Yards Coffeehouse 🩶

Over 40 folks came through to share space, show love, and be in community. From poetry to rapping, the energy was there!

Huge thank you to Uxmar Torres for holding it down and to Back of the Yards Coffeehouse + Eli for making this possible.

Special shoutout to our youth, Hennessy Guzman and Jesse Cisneros, seeing them step into their voices and share their truth is exactly what this work is about.

Check out some of their pieces in the comments✨

Address

Chicago, IL
60632

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Increase The Peace posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Increase The Peace:

Share