Nonviolent Cities Project in the works in Joliet

A Joliet group is forming to join the national Nonviolent Cities Project.

A number of people involved in the local effort gathered downtown and outside Joliet City Hall last week to draw attention to their cause.

Concetta Smart was among those outside City Hall before the City Council meeting on Oct. 6.

Smart said the Nonviolent Joliet project is still at the stage of attracting people to the organization and forming a list of local goals.

"We're trying to get together a steering committee," Smart said, adding they are looking for "everybody who has an interest in seeing a nonviolent Joliet."

The Nonviolent Cities Project website lists a wide range of issues it wants to address, including racism, poverty, police violence, gang violence, domestic violence, jail reform, pollution and climate change.

The website states 50 cities are organizing local projects and lists 20 active cities, including Chicago and Carbondale.

"There are other cities across Illinois that have worked on this," Smart said.

The movement started in Carbondale, according to the Nonviolent Cities Project website.

Smart said people interested in the Nonviolent Cities Project should visit its website at paceebene.org.