CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- More than 70 neighborhoods across the city hosted National Night Out celebrations.

• Charlotte and other cities hosted the event to better police relations with communities they serve
• There have been 33 homicides so far in 2018
• Seven of those cases involved teens under the age of 16         

The annual event connects police departments with communities to build better relationships between the two.

From face painting to a good game of cornhole, dozens packed the Hidden Valley neighborhood for the city's annual event.

“It gives officers a chance to come out with the entire community and sit back and relax. You know a lot of times we get called out it’s always for something negative,” detective Brandon Miller with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said.

This year's celebration comes as CMPD is noticing an uptick in teen violence.

So far in 2018, there have been 33 homicides, seven of those cases involved teenagers under the age of 16. Some of them as victims and others as suspects.

“Sometimes when I see these kids getting arrested at such a young age you know it makes me think ‘what if that was my child?’ and so it hits home for me as a parent and it’s a bit alarming as well,” Miller said.

It’s an alarming reality that hits home for teenagers like 13-year-old Joey Zych.

“Real sad because, I wouldn't want to be arrested at 15, 16,” Zych said.

He says he's staying out of trouble by spending his time with a nonprofit called Men of Destiny. Gary Crump, the group's executive director, believes everyone with and without a badge needs to change how teenagers are approached.

“Need to start talking to the youth, not talking at them. A lot of them are lacking love,” Crump said.

CMPD says they are working on early intervention programs to work with kids and teens in Charlotte communities to try and put them on a path for success so they don’t end up behind bars.