Chicago seems to be on track to have one of the most violent Summers ever. Typically in the Winter instances of violence subside and the city is a bit safer however that is not the case. Homicide is on the rise, and once again it seems like our children are walking targets. Once again there are demands on the police and public officials to keep the children safe.  There are even designated routes called Safe Passage routes that are designed to provide safe routes for children traveling to and from school.  Safe Passage workers are visibly out with bright jackets in an effort to keep Chicago youth safe.  Sadly instances of violence still occur on the routes. I hear residents saying we need to be protected, our neighborhoods aren’t safe and the list goes on. One thing that I don’t always see is active people in the community joining in with the authorities to make it safe. I have been blessed to work with a few community groups that are doing more than calling for help they are in the trenches building community and calling for a stop to the senseless murders. I often ask myself “whose job is it to provide safe passage for our children?” The answer I always give is that it is the parents job and the people of the community. Many of our communities have become overrun with gangs and drugs all fighting for control of a corner that none of them own.  Innocent children are routinely killed during turf wars and it seems like there is no end in sight. It’s time that we stop looking for other people to provide safe passage for our children and do it ourselves.  The police can’t do it all they simply don’t have enough resources and many in he community still operate on a “no snitch” culture that continues to let murder run rampant. I remember a time when parents would raise up and do what they had to do in order to protect the children, it’s time they do that again by any means necessary!  Follow us on all social media @MrOpenyonated and visit our Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/Mr.Openyonated/