Albuquerque Community Safety Caps Off First Successful Month of Summer of Nonviolence

ALBUQUERQUE – More than 7,000 people have attended Summer of Nonviolence events so far in 2026, including over 1,200 who gathered Wednesday evening at Balloon Fiesta Park for a free drive-in movie night featuring A Goofy Movie.  This is an increase from approximately 4,000 in May & June 2025. 

The events have been presented through a partnership between Albuquerque Community Safety, the City of Albuquerque Parks & Recreation Department, Albuquerque Police Department, Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Bernalillo County, and 99.9 The Beat. The Seasons of Nonviolence initiative, which includes increased programming in the Summer, encourages young people to take a pledge of nonviolence while offering safe, family-friendly activities throughout the summer.

The pledge encourages youth and families to promote kindness, make positive decisions, and help foster safer neighborhoods. Guests who completed a short survey also received vouchers redeemable at participating food vendors, including Zia Strong, Papa Cano’s Wood Fired Pizza, Ordinarily Beautiful Cotton Candy, NM Soul Shack, Original Green Chile Corndog on a Stick, and XO Fast Foods.

At the most recent movie screening, families had the opportunity to connect with organizations offering information on behavioral health services, housing and shelter assistance, food resources, educational programs, and other community-based support. Expanding awareness of these services remains a central goal of the campaign as it works to strengthen families and create opportunities for youth throughout Albuquerque.

“We are excited to see that the Summer of Nonviolence is growing every year.  Creating opportunities for families to spend time together in safe, welcoming spaces is an important part of supporting our community,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “The Seasons of Nonviolence campaign helps connect young people with positive experiences, valuable resources, and the message that they belong and matter.

“The energy at these events shows how much our community values coming together, and we’re working to make it bigger and better for them,” said ACS Public Outreach Coordinator Ismael Vallejos. “Whether families are enjoying a movie, learning about local services, or simply spending time with one another, these gatherings help strengthen connections that make our city healthier and safer.”

“Bringing residents together through free community events is one of the many ways we can encourage engagement, understanding, and respect,” said Bernalillo County Commission Chair Adriann Barboa (D3). “The Seasons of Nonviolence campaign continues to create meaningful opportunities for young people and families to build relationships and access support throughout the summer.”

The campaign will continue hosting free events throughout the summer designed to keep youth engaged, active, and connected.

Three additional Seasons of Nonviolence Drive-In Nights at Balloon Fiesta Park are scheduled for July 8, July 22, and into August. Additionally, there will be a Pool Party at Wilson Pool on July 11 and a Basketball Camp at Albuquerque High School on July 16.  The public is welcome to follow Albuquerque Community Safety on social media to help pick the next films! Make sure to follow us on: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

For more information on all upcoming events and activities, visit the Seasons of Nonviolence website cabq.gov/sonv.

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About Albuquerque Community Safety

Albuquerque Community Safety is the City of Albuquerque’s third branch of public safety. Responders take calls for service involving behavioral health, substance use, and other non-criminal and non-medical issues. Request an ACS Responder by calling 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.

About Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico’s most populous county with more than 676,000 residents. Bernalillo County government provides a wide range of public services to residents who live in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras with approximately 106,000 residents living in unincorporated areas of the county. Bernalillo County employs approximately 2,500 people and has an annual operating budget, capital investments and other funds of more than $1 billion. Elected officials include five county commissioners, assessor, clerk, probate judge, sheriff and treasurer.