Milwaukee 'Promise Keepers' put love and support into the community

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- As busy as Milwaukee summers can be, the Milwaukee Promise Keepers are keeping up. They're often seen at events, crime scenes, and neighborhoods in orange shirts or sweatshirts that say "MKE Promise Keepers" -- a group of residents tasked with stopping violence before it happens. 

"Each one of us enjoys the things we do with the community and trying to uplift the community and try to take our community back," said Manuel Ayala, Milwaukee Promise Keepers.

"When you see a Promise Keeper, you know they're there to help."

They say that while police are responding to crimes investigating, they can help connect better with the victims and their families.

"We're more than proactive at the scenes, dealing with the families and trying to comfort the families to where law enforcement can't do that. They're there particularly just for that crime. We're not there just for that crime. We're there to be able to engage with the people that the crime affected," said Marty Calderon, Milwaukee Promise Keepers.  

"They already have so much to do that it's like, you just can't expect the police to do everything," said Travis Hope, Milwaukee Promise Keepers. "We need people in the community that work to help address other issues and other things that you know they can't necessarily get to."

The Promise Keepers have been around for two years in Milwaukee working with the Office of Community Wellness and Safety. There are a total of 36 Promise Keepers as of Oct. 1. CBS58 spoke with the group that calls themselves "Team Unified" on the south side of MIlwaukee.  This group of men who grew up on the south side have spent decades working to keep their community safe. "This is our home and that's why we do what we do," said Calderon. 

However, they say they're being under-utilized as they're only hired as part-time, with no benefits.

CBS 58's Montse Ricossa: "How do you think the city of Milwaukee is impacted by only giving your team 20 hours a week?"

Calderon: "Well, we see the impact, you know, we see the crime. We see it's still happening. You know, I think our data clearly speaks for itself, that when we are doing what we do, it's effective. So when we're not able to fully do what we do, it's there's going to be an increase of the crime, increase of situations happening because we're limited on our end to perform the work that we're supposed to be doing."

Ayala: "If we don't, who else is gonna do it? Our promise is to the community is we're going to stay here and keep our word, Promise Keepers, we keep our word to the community and try to uplift it and make it a safe environment."

The group says they often go over 20 hours each week but don't complain about it, because they feel it's their responsibility to the community. When a crime occurs, oftentimes OCWS, authorities, or an alderman will reach out to them -- even if they're over on their hours, said the group. "Now we’re volunteering, we’re not getting compensated. But do we argue that? No, we go with a smile. We show up because we know it’s for the community.

Alexander De La Garza with the Promise Keepers said he first met Pastor Marty when he was in high school, and Marty was talking to his class about youth violence. Now, he's helping Marty and the Promise Keepers make Milwaukee a better place. "We're putting that love and support in that community," he shared.

Learn more about the Milwaukee Promise Keepers HERE.