Block Parties and Festivals

Celebrations take on great significance in society. They provide communities with an opportunity to gather, eat, enjoy music, and, most importantly, connect with each other. These opportunities take on great significance in communities that have limited opportunities to come together and celebrate as a community, allowing social connections to occur across age and racial/ethnic backgrounds. Urban communities have block parties that allow public spaces to be converted into celebratory arenas. These events transform public spaces to achieve communal needs. However, when gun violence punctuates these celebrations, the harm done to communities goes far beyond the deaths and physical injuries that transpire. Community spirit and connectedness, too, suffer as a result.