Dozens of adults and teens gathered at the corner of 111th and Michigan in the snow this afternoon. They are members of Save A Teen, a coalition wants to stop teen killings. Organizers say they hope to distract young people by reaching them through their passions: parties, summer barbeques and making music. De’Vante Howell is a student at Fenger High School. He says he plans to tell his friends to get involved.

HOWELL: I’d rather be here than out on the street because basically being ain’t really nothing good for you. It’s easy to get caught up but it’s hard to get out of trouble.

The Save A Teen partnership includes the Chicago police department and other Roseland community organizations such as Kids Off the Block. This school year, nearly 20 Chicago Public School students have died by violence.

I’m Natalie Moore, Chicago Public Radio.