Mayor’s office outlines 'Occupy the Summer' youth engagement after downtown 'team takeover' events
April 13, 2026 | Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
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City officials told the Public Health & Safety committee on April 13 that they have been meeting with youth organizers after recent downtown "team takeover" gatherings and are co-designing safe summer spaces and programming.
Dr. Chanel Hampton, senior director of youth and education liaison to the mayor, said the administration held a press conference and has convened meetings with the organizers of the team takeovers. She said the group will participate on a committee developing the 'Occupy the Summer' initiative, which is scheduled to run from June 12 through Aug. 14, and that the administration will hold another committee meeting the week following the committee to plan details.
"We are having conversations with them... We are working with them, to actually create additional spaces for youth their age, to engage," Hampton told the committee.
Tafari Brent, senior director for the mayor’s office in neighborhood and community safety, described the city’s community violence intervention (CVI) partners’ containment and coordination work and pushed back on media descriptions of the downtown gathering size. "There were less than 75 people downtown throughout the night," Brent said, disputing reports that suggested much larger numbers. Brent said the city’s CVI teams and partners have kept similar events more peaceful than elsewhere by coordinating with Detroit Police Department and community groups.
Council members welcomed the engagement and emphasized the need for additional 'third places'—well-lit, supervised public areas and programming—so young people have safe options in downtown and neighborhood settings. The chair noted possible programmatic ideas such as skate parks, picnic tables and night-time lighting, and suggested hiring youth as liaisons during the summer program to keep them engaged.
The committee thanked the administration for the update and encouraged continuing listening sessions with youth and community partners.
Dr. Chanel Hampton, senior director of youth and education liaison to the mayor, said the administration held a press conference and has convened meetings with the organizers of the team takeovers. She said the group will participate on a committee developing the 'Occupy the Summer' initiative, which is scheduled to run from June 12 through Aug. 14, and that the administration will hold another committee meeting the week following the committee to plan details.
"We are having conversations with them... We are working with them, to actually create additional spaces for youth their age, to engage," Hampton told the committee.
Tafari Brent, senior director for the mayor’s office in neighborhood and community safety, described the city’s community violence intervention (CVI) partners’ containment and coordination work and pushed back on media descriptions of the downtown gathering size. "There were less than 75 people downtown throughout the night," Brent said, disputing reports that suggested much larger numbers. Brent said the city’s CVI teams and partners have kept similar events more peaceful than elsewhere by coordinating with Detroit Police Department and community groups.
Council members welcomed the engagement and emphasized the need for additional 'third places'—well-lit, supervised public areas and programming—so young people have safe options in downtown and neighborhood settings. The chair noted possible programmatic ideas such as skate parks, picnic tables and night-time lighting, and suggested hiring youth as liaisons during the summer program to keep them engaged.
The committee thanked the administration for the update and encouraged continuing listening sessions with youth and community partners.
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