Addressing Public Safety and Crime Through Youth-Led Activations for Peace

Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s struggle with crime and violence puts community safety at the forefront of local discussion. However, the voices of residents in high-risk areas are often overlooked, resulting in safety solutions that neglect the insights of those most impacted. 

This systemic exclusion denies communities access to crucial resources, decision-making platforms, and meaningful conversations about their futures. Recognizing this gap, the city of Baton Rouge sought to implement Community Violence Intervention (CVI) initiatives that would center the lived experiences of those most affected by crime and violence.

In 2020, the city designed Safe Hopeful Healthy BR, a community-led public safety initiative, but it needed an innovative way to measure engagement and impact across the community. In 2023, we partnered with Safe Hopeful Healthy BR to design and implement a multi-phase strategy to address both the immediate need for intervention and the broader goal of systemic change.

Developing a comprehensive approach to support Baton Rouge’s CVI program required creativity, strategy, and a commitment to community-centered design. Our expertise in impact and experience led to the creation of  physical and digital advocacy campaign that prioritized measurable engagement and meaningful participation. The solution unfolded in three key phases:

Phase 1: The Peace Pit — A Corner Store for Change

To address the city’s need for measurable engagement, we conceptualized the Peace Over Everything Peace Pit, a physical activation inspired by a neighborhood corner store. This traveling pop-up directly brought crime prevention resources to the neighborhoods impacted by violent crime. Residents could visit the Peace Pit to receive free, Peace Over Everything merchandise in exchange for completing surveys and participating in video interviews. 

This activation allowed the city to gather critical feedback while fostering a welcoming and engaging environment for community members. Through the Peace Pit, Baton Rouge gained a tangible, data-driven way to measure participation and public opinion. 

Over 7,000 shirts, hats, water bottles, and other merch items were distributed effectively creating representatives that conveyed hope and peace to Baton Rouge.

Phase 2: Storytelling — Amplifying Community Narratives

Building on the success of the physical activation, we developed a multi-channel digital storytelling strategy for Safe Hopeful Healthy BR. Stories collected through video interviews at the Peace Pit became the foundation for impactful content shared across social media and newsletters. 

This phase amplified narratives authored by community members themselves by highlighting personal accounts, pushing for more community involvement in the Peace Pit.

Phase 3: Youth Workforce Development — Cultivating the Next Generation of Activists

To operate the Peace Pit, we developed the tools and framework for a Youth Ambassador Program. This program was designed to empower and employ young people from high-risk neighborhoods to become advocates for peace within their communities.

Youth Ambassador participants received extensive leadership and career training, including on-the-job experience, personal development workshops, and an incentives program to reward their achievements. These ambassadors not only spread messages of peace but also became role models for their peers, embodying the potential for positive change.