Detroit police officers detained more than 180 minors during a fireworks celebration on June 22, 2026. Most offenses were curfew violations, and the event was generally peaceful.

Large gatherings of young people in public spaces coordinated through social media, known as “teen takeovers,” have drawn concern from local law enforcement in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Raleigh and other cities across the country this summer.

Some argue that takeovers happen because teens do not have spaces to gather in less disruptive ways.

In response to this issue, Detroit created a youth advisory council in April 2026 to build out safe, structured and fun teen spaces. The city also brought back its Midnight Basketball League for Detroiters ages 18 to 26, part of a broader public safety and community engagement initiative.

In my experience as a youth violence prevention researcher, I’ve learned that working with teens to come up with solutions takes advantage of their ability to think outside the box and create new things.

Done well, solutions cocreated with teens could make communities better for all of us by increasing safety and social opportunities.

On the other hand, this strategy could turn into tokenism – a surface-level effort to create the appearance of inclusion without making structural changes or sharing power. When that happens, adults just pretend young people are included but still hold all the votes and make all the decisions, no matter what youth advisers say.

Collaboration and a common purpose

There are many ways to fail at youth partnerships. I have learned that the hard way.

Once, a young adult advisory board member in Mobile, Alabama, told me, “Honestly, people are irrelevant after they hit 25.” She was frustrated as the local government pushed yet another strategy to reduce violence, in a move that she perceived to be superficial and politically motivated. She had been fighting for systemic changes to address the deep, root causes of violence that left her community enduring tragic loss after........

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