Mayor Eric Garcetti has kicked off Summer Night Lights (SNL), a program that keeps parks and recreation centers open late to provide young people and families with safe, fun gathering spaces during the summer months, helping to reduce crime and violence in the peak months of gang-related activity. This year’s program will offer vaccinations on site.
“Every Angeleno deserves a place in their community where they feel safe to spend quality time with their friends and loved ones,” said Garcetti. “This past year has been difficult on our entire city, but I’m excited to see one of our most beloved programs return and help celebrate a new chapter in our city’s recovery.”
SNL is a signature initiative of the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development (GRYD) — offering free food and activities at 34 City parks, and connecting young people and families with job opportunities and other resources. The program is made possible through partnerships with the LAPD, LAFD, GRYD Foundation, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Mayor’s Fund for L.A.
“SNL is an award-winning, proven example of the public, private and philanthropic sectors combining to make our communities safer and stronger,” said Deidre Lind, president & CEO of the Mayor’s Fund. “The Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles has supported SNL since our founding, and we are proud to celebrate its kickoff this year.”
Participating sites offer Angelenos access to free fresh produce and dry goods. In response to the pandemic, SNL switched its focus to Grab and Go meals, providing 24,000 individual meals during the 2020 season. In 2019, SNL served close to 450,000 meals for local residents.
The SNL program is also offering sports clinics through a partnership with the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks at select locations.
Initially launched in 2008, SNL includes gang prevention, gang intervention, violence interruption, community engagement, and juvenile gang reentry programs. An important piece of the GRYD strategy, the program was credited with reducing crime at over 70 percent of sites in 2019.
Summer Night Lights will run Through Aug. 20. For more Information, visit lagryd.org/snl2021.
