Over 1,900 people attended the final drive-in movie of the 2025 Summer of Nonviolence series at Balloon Fiesta Park on Wednesday evening. The event featured a screening of “Twilight” and marked the conclusion of this year’s initiative aimed at promoting nonviolence among youth.
The Summer of Nonviolence campaign is sponsored by Bernalillo County, City of Albuquerque Parks & Recreation, Albuquerque Community Safety Department, and Albuquerque Police Department. Its goal is to encourage young people to pledge nonviolence while providing family-friendly activities during the summer months.
So far this summer, more than 1,000 youth and community members have taken the nonviolence pledge. At Wednesday’s event, those who made the pledge received an “I Pledge” t-shirt. Attendees who completed a brief survey were given vouchers for food trucks such as Ordinarily Beautiful Cotton Candy, Papa Cano’s Wood Fire Pizza, Zia Strong, Rollin In Hot, and XO Fast Foods.
Youth ambassadors called “Gen P” (Generation Peace) greeted guests and shared information about the campaign. The event also offered resources including behavioral health services, shelter options, food assistance programs, and educational support as part of efforts to strengthen community connections.
“This summer has shown what’s possible when we come together to create safe spaces for our youth,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Each event has helped plant the seeds of connection, peace, and possibility.”
“As we move closer to wrapping up the second Summer of Nonviolence, it’s heartening to see how many in our community are embracing the effort,” said Bernalillo County Commission Vice-Chair Adriann Barboa (D3). “The positive vibe of the attendees was just fantastic, perfectly capturing the spirit of this initiative.”
“From the energy of the attendees to the outreach happening on the ground, these events continue to make a real impact,” said ACS Director Jodie Esquibel. “It’s more than a movie night, it’s a step toward lasting community change.”
The campaign hosts several events throughout summer designed for young people to enjoy themselves in safe environments. More details about future events can be found on the Summer of Nonviolence website.
