Kristen Williams won the $2,000 grand prize of the 2011 Violence Stops Here contest for her original rap entry. Tiara Platt won $750 for her original poem, and Dakahari Ingram and Corey Bevil collaborated on a rap to win $250. The contest was sponsored by Chicago Beverage Systems and aimed to get youth in Chicago neighborhoods to express ways to reduce violence through video submissions. The top entries then performed live for a chance to win scholarship money for their creative expressions addressing community violence.

1. Contact: Steven C. Philpott
XtraMedium Communications LLC
Phone 312.344.3037
E-mail steven@xtra-medium.com
Chicago Antiviolence Contest Winner
Receives Award
Chicago Beverage Systems presents $2,000 cash
scholarship for community-driven competition.
Chicago, IL, January 30, 2012
Kristen Williams is all smiles as she receives a check for
winning the 2011 Violence Stops Here competition.
Kristin, a senior at Lindblom Math & Science Academy
won the $2,000 grand prize with her performance of
an original rap entry.
“We encourage Kristin to get involved in all sorts of
creative endeavors.” says Melissa Williams, mother of
the 17-year old and a Chicago police officer. “She Willie “JR” Smith (left) of Chicago Beverage Systems presents
plans to be a plastic surgeon, so this definitely helps a check for $2,000 to Kristin Williams (center) along with
her with school in the fall.” Steven C. Philpott (right) of XtraMedium Communications.
Tiara Platt of Simeon Career Academy won the $750 2nd place award with her original poem. Dakahari Ingram and
Corey Bevil of Carter G. Woodson middle school collaborated to create an original rap to take home the $250 3rd place
award. Their video entries can be viewed at www.ViolenceStopsHere.com.
The 2011 Violence Stops Here contest was underwritten by Chicago Beverage Systems LLC as a New Media for
Community Development campaign developed and managed by XtraMedium Communications LLC. The campaign
included collaboration between the 51st Street Business Association, HOYCE Youth Center and several community-
based organizations as a way of getting youth to think about and expressing ways of ending violence in their
neighborhoods.
Chicago Beverage Systems supported the 2011 Violence Campaign by providing funding
for all aspects of outreach, marketing, and the implementation of the social networking
strategy. “It’s great that we could take an “outside the box” approach to help make an
impact in the community.”, Willie “JR Smith of Chicago Beverage Systems.
The Violence Stops Here contest began June 15th. Chicago Public School students ages 13
– 19 from Chicago’s Chatham, Englewood, and Grand Boulevard communities submitted
a short video from their cell phones or pc to ViolenceStopsHere.com to enter the contest.
Each video was judged on: 1) creative expression, 2) relevance to the community, and
3) number of online votes.
Once approved by committee, contest entries received online votes by friends and family to determine the top entries
to compete in three live runoff performances at Lindblom Math & Science Academy, Phillips Academy and the finale at
Simeon Career Academy.
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XtraMedium Communications worked on behalf of Chicago Beverage Systems to explain the benefits of the 2011
campaign to local City of Chicago councilmen (aldermen), keep their chiefs of staff informed of progress and generate
goodwill across the 6-months of the campaign. The councilmen were excited to see Chicago Beverage Systems bring
the contest to their areas.
rd th th
3 Ward Alderman, 15 Ward Alderman 6 Ward Alderman
Pat Dowell Toni Foulkes Roderick T. Sawyer
“Violence is a cancer “The Violence Stops “We need youth to
destroying our youth Here Contest is an get involved in the
and communities. We excellent way for our Violence Stops Here contest. It sparks
must find more children to express creative solutions to pressing problem of
productive ways to express our their views about our community. After violence and gets us all involved in the
frustration and seek more understanding all it is their every day reality (on the process.”
with each other. The future of our streets and in the school, etc). Adults
communities depends on the choices we can only imagine it. It is only our
make today.” hypothesis, so who is better to tell the
story than our children?”
The Violence Stops Here performance showcases and competition were
hosted by Chicago artists Justflo & Uneq’ka Nov. 3rd at Lindblom Math &
Science Academy, Nov. 4th at Phillips Academy, and Nov. 10th at Simeon
Career Academy.
Principals and educators from the host schools worked together with
members of the 2011 Violence Stops Here committee to ensure the
2011 VSH Finale at Simeon Academy
contest was a lasting success for their communities.
In addition to the cash scholarship
awards, the campaign concluded with six
outdoor billboards promoting the
winners and aldermen throughout
Chicago’s Chatham, Englewood, and
Grand Boulevard communities
December 2011 through February 2012.
One of six outdoor billboards with 2011 VSH winner and local
aldermen. ###