City hosts 'love notes' event at Carmen Park to build community, prevent crime

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee's Department of Community Wellness and Safety hosted a "love notes" event Saturday, Aug. 29 at Carmen Park, offering backpack giveaways, hygiene kits, community resources and free food for families.

City leaders chose Carmen Park due to reports of higher crime in the area, hoping the event's presence could help prevent crime before it happens.

"You got a lot of resources, engagement, a lot of comfort for the neighborhood, a lot of love being spread, and just overall positive energy," said Stephen Hopkins, program lead for the Critical Response Team of Milwaukee.

Karin Tyler, director of the Department of Community Wellness and Safety, said the goal was to counter negativity in the community.

"We want to provide the city some hope and let them know people are out here working," Tyler said. "A lot of times there's a lot of negativity shared, fights that are shared. But we want to share hope, we want to share love. There are people behind the scenes working to make the city safer."