(CNN) Gang member Sherman Scullark was fed up. He walked boldly into rival gang territory in a rough neighborhood on Chicago's South Side determined to send a message.

Scullark's Chicago is a tough place. Violence there in 2016 and 2017 broke records in terms of shootings and homicides. This year, over the first weekend of August alone , 66 people were shot in Chicago. Twelve of them lost their lives.

But Skullark was unarmed when he walked up to his foes out in the open. He got straight to the point -- The 32-year-old was tired of the violence. It turned out his old enemies were too.

They talked out their differences right on the spot. Less than 24 hours later, peace emerged in the Pullman neighborhood.

Eight months later the area had a new playground -- built in part by the former gang rivals.

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