Reporting tags to the 44th Ward

 If you have see any tags in the 44th ward (outlined in the map above), please provide the closest possible address, where the graffiti is located (garage, pole, front,e tc.) and provide the type of surface, and email The 44th Ward.

Map of Recent Crime

Here is a map of all the recent crimes in Boystown to look over before our walks this weekend!

Image provided by Tim Hecke

 

 

 

 

 

 

To sign up for a walk, go to our  new sign up sheet!

End of Weekend Update

We've designed a new flier with a QR code so people can see our sign up sheets right from their smart phones. You can help us out by printing fliers here and distributing them around the neighborhood!

We've also created a new, easier way to sign up for weekend walks and have adjusted them to fit our new hour-long walk schedules! Sign up for a walk by clicking on the day you'd like and then the hour shift you're available to walk! Visit bdcap.tk to sign up.

This weekend we walked up and down some streets that we don't usually walk while still patrolling our regular Boystown haunts. Other than some rowdy Cubs fans, there wasn't much to report. We're still seeing some tags around the neighborhood but have also seen that some of our reported tags have been covered up.

Everyone have a safe week and we look forward to seeing you out next weekend! Don't forget to visit our new sign up page at bdcap.tk!

-- A map of the recent crimes in Boystown--

Image provided by Tim Hecke

New Way to Sign Up!

We've made signing up for walks easier! To view the sign up sheets and sign up for a walk, visit http://bdcap.moonfruit.com/ and click on the day you want to sign up.

Huffington Post

Check out the article on the Huffington Post's Chicago page about violence in Boystown and this weekend's Market Days. BDCAP is not only mentioned but eloquently quoted! Thanks to Joseph Erbentraut for his interest and help in spreading the word about our group!

Check out the article here.

(EDIT: If you are interested in joining a walk or have any questions, please check out our Facebook or EMAIL BDCAP

Reporting "Tags" and other news

We have been coming across a lot of unsightly graffiti and taggings on our walks, which we have been reporting to the alderman's office. If you come across any on your day-to-day, be sure to note the location and send it to The 44th Ward! It wastes NO police time and is super easy to do!

 

Be sure to check out our Facebook and our Twitter, and email any questions or concerns to boystowndogwalkers@gmail.com!

We also have launched our Google+ page, be sure to check it out on Google!

Friday Update

We've spent the past weekends having successful walks and building interest in the group. Tonight we sent out 2 groups at the 10PM shift and had enough walkers to split into 3 groups at midnight! Thankfully there hasn't been anything to report, though one group did help escort a man home after finding him passed out in a doorway around 12:15AM.

We apologize for the lack of blog updates as of late; we'll do a better job of keeping everyone up to speed!

We were also mentioned on WGN News and will hopefully have a video clip up soon.

View our schedule here and post to the Facebook wall what day and time you can do, or e-mail us at boystowndogwalkers@gmail.com.

Enjoy these photos from the past few weeks. We look forward to seeing you out there!

Weekend Recap

We had quite a full weekend, launching the Friday groups and spreading the word around the neighborhood. On Friday we stopped by Taverna 750 and picked up a bunch of poop bags and organic treats, donated by poopbags.com. The dogs (and owners) were thankful for the thought! On Friday and Saturday we were able to send out 3 groups each, with an especially strong group at the 1AM shift. We flagged down a patrol to help a very intoxicated young woman who was drunkenly laying in bushes across the street from the Abbott Hotel, with a trail of vomit leading to her. We also saw a very quick police response time no one of the later shifts when there was a group of people loitering and harassing passersby by Fitness Formula Club on Halsted. It was great to see so many new faces along with some of our regulars and we're happy to say that all the dogs are getting along great!

As always you can sign up to the schedule on Google Docs by emailing boystowndogwalkers@gmail.com or posting to the Facebook wall. We also have a number where you can text your desired group or let us know last minute changes to your plan, (773) 701-7334 (TEXT ONLY).

Hope to see you next weekend!

Red Eye Chicago!

We were featured in Red Eye Chicago! Many thanks to Tony Peregrin for helping us spread the word!

RED EYE CHICAGO - Boystown Dogwalkers Hope to Bring Safety to Streets

Fusion

Help keep spreading the word! Craig Gernhardt's story on the group was picked up by Fusion. Check it out here! http://content.fusionradio.fm/2011/07/paws-for-peace-comes-to-boystown/ 

Gay Chicago

We were featured in an article by Gay Chicago! Many thanks to Craig Gernhardt for helping us spread the word! Check out the article at http://gaychicagonews.com/blog/2011/07/paws-for-peace-comes-to-boystown/

Launch Weekend Recap

We kicked off the walks this weekend with a great group of walkers, dogs and people alike! We were able to send out three groups on Saturday night and two groups on Sunday night with walkers handing out fliers promoting the group and information on how to get involved. Walkers were able to post to Twitter and the Facebook page about their movements, keeping everyone involved!

We look forward to more walks next weekend and have created a schedule on a Google Docs spreadsheet where people who want to participate can sign up for a group by emailing boystowndogwalkers@gmail.com with the shift they want to take. Remember, no dogs are needed to join in on the walks!

Be sure to stay updated on our Facebook page at facebook.com/boystowndogwalkers and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/BDCAP.

To view the schedule, visit https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ardv98cCB9pIdEdVTXlaLXViajhhVzA3Q0E0UUFZLUE&hl=en_US#gid=0

Another way to get involved is to print and hand out fliers when you're out and about. The flier can be found at http://i.imgur.com/IAM1v.png.

Looking forward to seeing you next week! E-mail boystowndogwalkers@gmail.com with any questions or for more information on how to get involved.

First Walk Tonight!

We're ready to start our walks tonight, Saturday, July 9! We're still hoping to get more volunteers so that we can have a strong and safe presence. In the coming hours we'll be posting more information about the walk at https://www.facebook.com/Boystowndogwalkers so be sure to check the site for more information. We'll re-post here as well.

Looking forward to seeing you tonight!

News!

We were featured on CBS Chicago's evening broadcast!

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/07/07/boys-town-safety-group-seeks-watchful-eyes-of-dog-owners/

We're thrilled with all the support we've received so far. Thanks to everyone for your input and suggestions. We're hoping to arrange the first walk this evening. Visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Boystowndogwalkers for more information or e-mail us at boystowndogwalkers@gmail.com to get involved.

If anyone has seen other news stories about the group, please e-mail us or post on the Facebook page.

Subscribe to our twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BDCAP

Boystown Dogwalkers Community Awareness Program

Welcome to the official Boystown Dogwalkers Blog!

Many of you are certainly familiar with the lively Boystown neighborhood in the Lakeview district of Chicago. A diverse community where anyone is welcome regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, political view, or religious belief. The neighborhood is a destination for young and old alike seeking a unique dining experience, exciting shops, or a fun night on the town. Its residents love the vibrant atmosphere and community feel of its streets and come together to celebrate the city in which they live.

This neighborhood is also a safe haven for those who feel persecuted or abandoned. Non-profit organizations and ministries reach out to those in need and aid those in pain. The community strives to support these individuals and create a safe environment for its residents and visitors.

Unfortunately, this idyllic portrait has been marred by an increase in violent crime perpetrated against the neighborhood's residents and visitors. Concerned citizens have come together to devise a solution so that the people who live and frequent Boystown feel a continued sense of safety. A CAPS meeting on July 6, 2011 was attended by an astounding number of residents, patrons, business owners, and community leaders. Many present did not find the short-term solutions that they hoped for and thus, as a response, this group was formed.

We are a group of concerned citizens who have come together with what we consider a short-term solution to keeping our neighborhood safe and welcoming. We encourage others to organize separate, committed groups and look forward to working with these groups.

Our plan, as it stands at this point (and with the expectation that this plan is likely to change as more people become involved and contribute to the discussion), is to encourage dog owners and non-dog owners in Lakeview to come together at scheduled times throughout the evening and walk the neighborhood streets, keeping eyes preened for suspicious, disruptive, and criminal activity that poses a threat to area safety.  We will never intervene physically or verbally, we will only document and report what we see to the police and public. Through Facebook and other social media we plan to alert residents to activity in the area, as well as being in contact with the police.

THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS THIS GROUP CAN ACHIEVE IS A QUICKER RESPONSE TIMES TO VIOLENT CRIMES BY THE POLICE, as well as assisting them in anyway possible in any investigations by providing witness accounts, video evidence (hopefully from multiple angles), and photographic evidence.

Visit our Facebook page for more information and to give any feedback or suggestions: http://www.facebook.com/Boystowndogwalkers

Or e-mail us at: boystowndogwalkers@gmail.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BDCAP

Thanks for your support!