"To police themselves:" New initiative has HOOD ambassadors working in troubled neighborhoods

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Alderman Ashanti Hamilton is launching a new program in an effort to keep people safe in Milwaukee.

It's called the "Safe Zone initiative."

HOOD (Helping Others Obtain Direction) ambassadors will work in four of the city's most troubled neighborhoods. These people will be available to intervene in potentially violent situations.

"It was all about empowering the people that live in these neighborhoods to do for self -- to police themselves, to work with their neighbors, to grow their village, to help protect their children that live in these communities," Khalil Coleman, HOOD ambassador said.

All HOOD ambassadors received training in classes for conflict resolution, knowing your rights, restorative justice, community mapping and counter-human trafficking.