RESERVE — Tremond Alvis of LaPlace believes bringing back a “village mentality” is key to alleviating violence concerns that have wounded the St. John the Baptist Parish community.

With the help of dedicated community partners, Alvis is hosting the Inaugural Back to School Stop the Violence Summer Jam from 1 to 9 p.m. August 4 at REGALA Park in Reserve.

Children who attend the free event will be treated to a kickball game, waterslides, a spacewalk, free haircuts and silk presses, live music, food and craft vendors and a school supply giveaway.

“I grew up here, and I felt we needed to do something about the gun violence that has been in the area,” Alvis said. “We can turn it around by working together. I feel like they’ve taken the village out of it as far as parenting. When I grew up, the neighborhood worked together. If we were outside doing something, my friend’s mom had permission to discipline me or correct me if I was wrong.”

According to Alvis, recreational sports and after-school activities are excellent opportunities for young people to socialize and build camaraderie with their peers.

“Our thing was coming together and playing ball,” Alvis said. “I think a lot of the kids are away from it now. They grew up watching music videos and playing video games. I just want them to get back to being outside.”

An adult softball tournament will also take place at the Stop the Violence event, according to Alvis. Team registration is due by July 25.

St. John Parish Sheriff candidate Juan “Shug” Watkins and Super Bowl champion Ryan Perrilloux will serve as guest speakers for the event.

Watkins praised Alvis for hosting the event. He said it’s important to have programs in place to keep young people occupied in a positive way, not just over the summer, but throughout the school year as well.

Watkins and Perrilloux are two of the main sponsors of the event, along with Corey Brown of Carrera music group and Kajuan Smith of Wolly Events.

Smith recently hosted an Inaugural Stop the Violence event in St. Charles Parish, and he’s communicated with Alvis to bring a similar event to St. John Parish.

On August 4, Smith will donate backpacks, notebooks, pencils, pens, loose-leaf paper and other materials to children at REGALA Park. On July 28, he will donate school supplies from 2 to 7 p.m. at Bethune Park in Norco.

“It’s my fourth or fifth year doing it,” Smith said. “Every year, me and a few of my buddies put up some money to do it. When I was young, we didn’t have anyone to do those things for us.”

Smith said the St. Charles Parish Stop the Violence event was “perfect,” and he hopes to see the same results in St. John Parish.

Kouda, Keshun Da Diva, Nova and many other artists will set the tone with live music at the August 4 event. DJ DailyGrind will be on-site to keep the energy flowing, Alvis said.

“We’ll have Christian music, R&B and rap music,” Alvis continued. “There will be multiple vendors. I don’t look to take any monetary donations, but we would welcome anyone who wants to donate school supplies, provide face painting or do anything else to contribute to the kids.”

Alvis is excited to offer complimentary back-to-school haircuts and silk presses at the summer jam. Parents of girls receiving silk presses are asked to arrive with clean hair, free of product.

Back to School Stop the Violence will be an annual event, and Alvis plans to continue youth outreach with a nonprofit organization.

“I want to start a non profit organization, a young man’s club, to help young men ages 13 through 19 and try to teach them the way of life,” Alvis said. “You’d be surprised how many kids are walking around and don’t know how to tie a tie or do things like that. I want to be a positive role model.”

For more information or to contribute to the summer jam, please contact Alvis at 504-266-8080.