The Safe Summer Series continues! This is a countywide youth safety initiative led by Safe & Sound Hillsborough in partnership with the City of Tampa, Tampa Police Department, and local youth organizations. These community advocacy events were created in response to recent “teen takeover” incidents, the series provides teens with safe, fun, and youth designed alternatives on weekend nights.
Last Thursday, Magnified Voices joined Tampa’s second Safe Summer Series event, where more than 150 young people and their families gathered for an evening of basketball games, video game stations, arts and crafts, music, and open spaces where teens could safely spend time with friends. The event provided a fun, welcoming environment designed to keep youth engaged, active, and connected throughout the summer.
“Safe Summer Series 2026 looks to provide support for our young people with things that they are already doing,” said Barton. “It’s all about utilizing social media in a positive way, putting together structured events, and working with young people who have unfortunately been impacted negatively by these recent takeovers.”
This community advocacy event allowed us to connect and provide critical information to voters
As families enjoyed the evening’s activities, our team welcomed neighbors to our resource table for meaningful conversations about civic participation. Throughout the event, we connected with 21 community members, answered questions, and helped residents prepare for the upcoming August Primary Election. Together, we completed five Vote By Mail enrollments and two party affiliation updates, ensuring voters had the information they needed to participate in the election.
The Safe Summer Series demonstrates what is possible when communities come together to create safe, positive spaces for young people while connecting families to valuable resources. Magnified Voices is grateful to be part of these gatherings and remains committed to meeting people where they are, building trust through conversation, and helping every eligible voter make their voice heard.
