In 1993, the Safe Night program was developed by the City of Milwaukee Health Department and the Milwaukee Violence Prevention Coalition (MVPC) to combat the explosion of violence in Milwaukee -- a 300% increase in violent death and injury between 1983 and 1993. Olusegun "Olu" Sijuwade developed the program as a way to get teens off the streets and out of trouble.

The first Safe Night was held June 10, 1994, the last day of classes for Milwaukee Public Schools before summer break. Over 45 community-based organizations and neighborhood groups kicked-off the first official Milwaukee Safe Night with nearly 4,000 participants.

The morning after the first citywide Safe Night, Milwaukee Children's Hospital reported that it had no youth-related injuries or deaths from violence the night before. To this day Children's Hospital can tell when Safe Nights are held in the community by the drop in the number of young people they treat due to violence.

In 1995, the National Crime Prevention Council published a special report featuring Safe Nights as a model violence prevention program. The Milwaukee Police Department also recognized Safe Night with the Special Crime Prevention Award.

Safe Night quickly grew to include 30 weekends, 98 sites and more than 8,690 participants a year. The youth homicide rate was 30% lower by September 1994 and the total homicide rate had decreased 12% from 1993 to 1994. Today, Milwaukee neighborhoods regularly have Safe Night events. And, what works for Milwaukee can work in your neighborhood too.

Milwaukee will be playing a big part in the Safe Night USA national celebration by being one of the Safe Night sites featured in the Live Show, June 5, 1999.

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