Alton Kicks off 40 Days of Nonviolence Initiative to Support Youth Through Free Programs

ALTON - The City of Alton is officially kicking off its 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative to support local youth.

On Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, city officials and representatives with the 40 Days of Nonviolence organization spoke about the initiative and plans to provide students with 40 days of programming. These programs aim to curb violence in the city starting on Jan. 28 through March 8, 2026, and beyond. Speakers noted the connection between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the kickoff of this initiative.

“We want to hopefully just have a great experience and help the kids and families,” said Mayor David Goins. “Let this campaign be a testament to our commitment to peace, one that honors Dr. King’s legacy and paves the way for a brighter, more harmonious future…Thank you for your resolve to make Alton a beacon of nonviolence.”

The six-week program starts at 8 a.m. every Saturday at Alton Middle School. Kids ages 8–18 can participate. Students will enjoy breakfast, classes, activities and lunch throughout the morning and afternoon.

The initiative breaks down into different themes, including an “Opening Week” of orientation and sample activities; a “Health Week” emphasizing mental and physical health; a “First Responders Week” with military, police, fire and EMT personnel; a “Civic/Religious Org Week” with local churches, the Urban League and the NAACP; an “Education Week” with the Alton School District, Lewis and Clark Community College, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; and finally, a “Unification Week” to tie together everything students have learned.

Fourth Ward Alderwoman Rosetta “Rosie” Brown introduced the 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative to the City Council last year. In September 2025, the City Council passed a resolution allocating $10,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to the initiative.

“It’s an initiative that’s going to bring us all together: parents, the school district, the children, the different organizations,” Brown said. “That’s what’s needed. It needs a team. It takes a village to take care of things. This is an investment.”

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Joe Lewis Jr., the organizer behind 40 Days of Nonviolence, echoed Brown. He shared that the initiative started in 2014 in East St. Louis and has grown into a major program.

“We are a faith-based and community-driven initiative whose purpose is to deter and ultimately eliminate violence in our communities through education, awareness and job creation,” Lewis explained.

As Lewis reviewed the iniative's history, Kakeesha Brannon, a communications consultant with the City of East St. Louis, expressed her gratitude for the program. She noted that East St. Louis has seen “tremendous and amazing results,” affecting over 240 young people. Brannon added that East St. Louis will partner with Alton to support the community of young people.

Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness have already signed up to collaborate with the program. Local businesses, nonprofits and churches are encouraged to join.

Donald Mason-El, who organizes mentorship programs for local youth, shared that Alton’s young people are "impressionable” and “have seemingly been forgotten.” He believes young people need to “see this world differently” to believe in its possibilities.

Dr. Marty K. Cason, president of UnGun/Disarming Trauma in St. Louis, added that the community must come together to support kids. This, speakers argued, will deter violence.

“Healing is all about connection and communication. We need each other,” Cason said. “It doesn't matter what your zip code is. It doesn't matter where you live or even how you live. What matters is that if we are not all living above the violence, we are all subject to the violence. We all have to come together to learn to work together in the community…We have to teach peace.”

Goins asked local kids to “open up your mind to something that could be potentially life-changing” and engage with the 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative. For more information about the initiative, including how to get involved as a student, parent, or organization, call (847) 461-9039 or visit the official 40 Days of Nonviolence Facebook page.

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