Roseland Ceasfire Promotes Violence Prevention and Community Peace with Weekend Basketball Tournament and Choir Concert Events

                              

                                                                                                         

            The weekend of June 7^th and 8^th was an extremely eventful one for Roseland Ceasefire as they held both their “Anti-Violence Basketball Tournament” and “Stop The Violence: Gospel Choir Concert” as fundraisers for, and in support of their anti-violence initiative. The non-profit committed to reducing and preventing violence (particularly gun violence) throughout Chicago’s far South Side kicked off the summer with a free community basketball tournament on Saturday, June 7th. The tournament, held from 9 am to 2 pm at the Pullman Community Center located at 10355 S. Woodlawn Ave., saw teams participate in sportsmanlike competition (including delegations from Eisenhower High School, Fenger Academy, Thornridge High School, Corliss High School and Roseland Ceasefire’s team), and spectators enjoying the entertainment. The tournament was additionally sponsored by Aldermen Anthony A. Beale and Ronnie Mosely (representing the 9^th and 21^stWards, respectively), Democrat for State Representative Justin Slaughter, and Chicago staple Beggar’s Pizza (who provided food and refreshments at the event). 

Sunday, June 8^th, saw the gospel choir concert in honor and support of National Gun Violence Awareness Month and the observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day the first Friday in June (this year, June 6^th) at eta Creative Arts Foundation, a pillar of the Performing Arts community on the South Side.  Prior to the start of the program sponsored in part by ComEd, State Representatives Will Davis and Bob Rita, James McReynolds, CPA, Bally’s Chicago, Sallee and Associates and Metropolitan Family Services (among others), food and fellowship abounded in eta’s dining hall until being ushered into the theatre for the presentation. The evening’s host, “The Destined Legend” Leon Rogers, kicked off the evening’s festivities and entertained the audience as well as kept things flowing between sets with his unique humor. After brief words of introduction from the emcee and Roseland Ceasefire’s Executive Director Bob Jackson, the show immediately commenced with Sidney Buckner and Y.I.U. (Youth In Unity).  Buckner and Y.I.U. ignited the stage with well-rehearsed renditions of Gospel classics and numbers such as “It’s Gonna’ Rain” featured on their “I Love Choir Music” EP (ironically, the downpour that had been consistent for about 2 hours began to end upon the group’s singing their reimagining of “It’s Gonna’ Rain”).

Next, Travis Crockett and the Powerful Voices of Praise offered just that with their riveting song selections. The presence of the Holy Spirit was manifest during Erik Kirk & True Worship’s dynamic performance that displayed not just their musical gift but zeal for God, with Kirk then pulling double-duty and joining Joshua Cooper & 1-Akord’s ensemble. Cooper & 1-Akord closed out the show magnificently with their moving worship and impressive, rich sound (notably anchored by a one-person Alto section that sounded so full that, if you closed your eyes, you would have believed at least 10 voices were being lifted to God’s Glory). Upon finishing singing, each participating choir was bestowed a trophy, and Executive Director Jackson, during the awards ceremony, also presented trophies and cash prizes to the teams that placed in the top three in the previous day’s basketball tournament (First Place Champion Eisenhower High School receiving the most sizeable statue and a $1,000 check). The Roseland Ceasefire staff, upon the concert’s conclusion, showed and celebrated their continued commitment to being “Boots on the Ground” in the community by taking to eta’s stage to perform the “Boots on the Ground” line dance that has taken Spring and Summer 2025 by storm. All in all, Roseland Ceasefire’s weekend of basketball competition and chorus in the spirit of anti-violence fulfilled the organization’s mission of supporting the interruption of conflict and inspiration of community and was a magnificent way to kick off a pleasant, tranquil 2025 #SummertimeChi. 

*Roseland Ceasefire (also known as Roseland Ceasefire Project Inc.) is a non-profit community-based organization (CBO) focused on working in tandem with other entities to create and enact strategies to reduce and prevent gun violence. Initially founded in November 2006 under the guidance of the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention, the organization’s mission is to “develop and deploy proven violence mitigation techniques and actions to stop and/or reduce violence of all kinds in our community”  and “improve overall community wellness through education, social advocacy and philanthropy.”  Currently under the leadership of Bob Jackson (Executive Director), Annette Alexander (Chief Financial Officer) and Warren Wright (Chief of Staff). Roseland Ceasefire remains committed to consistently to their efforts to abating and eliminating violence (particularly gun violence) and promoting community development and peace in at-risk South Side and South Suburban neighborhoods. To learn more about Roseland Ceasefire and their endeavors to be part of the solution towards the epidemic of violence and community fracture, please visit www.roselandceasefire.com (you can also follow the CBO on social media – Facebook: Roseland Ceasefire, Instagram: @theroselandceasefireprojectinc, X: @CeaseFireNow).  You can also contact Roseland Ceasefire by calling (708) 577-4533 or via email at info@roselandceasefire.com. 

*Sidney Buckner & Y.I.U. can be found on social media (Facebook: Sidney Buckner & Youth In Unity, Instagram: @youth_in_unity) and their music is available on most major streaming platforms (including Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Boomplay Music and iHeart). 

* Travis D. Crockett and The Powerful Voices of Praise can be found on Facebook and their music is available on most streaming services  (including Apple Music, Spotify, Boomplay Music, iHeart and Deezer). 

*Erik Kirk & True Worship can be found on social media (Facebook : Erik Kirk & True Worship, Instagram: @ek_trueworship) and their music is available on most major streaming platforms (including Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Boomplay Music and Tidal). 

 *Joshua Cooper & 1-Akord can be found on social media (Facebook: Joshua Cooper & 1-Akord, Instagram: @1akord) and have music available on YouTube and SoundCloud.