By Maggie Dolan, city editor

Barbecue, ice cream and double Dutch in the park screamed “peace” in Roxbury on Saturday.

Ayanna Pressley, councilor-at-large, hosted the fourth Annual Jump Into Peace Double Dutch Community Celebration at Malcolm X Park to remember community members lost to violence and to encourage peace in the neighborhood.

“Our vision today was to go into a place of violence, and transform it into a place of healing and peace,” Pressley said in an opening speech.

The celebration featured a performance by the Rope Burners, a competitive double Dutch team from Roxbury. Angela Francis started the Rope Burners team in 2000 when her daughter, Sharrice Perkins, and some friends wanted to compete. In 2012, Perkins and two friends were killed in a shooting, and a fourth was injured. After the violent incident, Pressley wanted to take action for peace.

“[Pressley] reached out to me,” Francis said. “She said she wanted to do something to bring people together, something to do with double Dutch. But she was still trying to figure it out.”

They decided on Jump Into Peace, a fun and energetic celebration open to the public, where families and friends could let out their inner child. The event honors those affected by violence and encourages girls and women to focus their energy toward fostering peace in the community.

“I wanted an event that was part of the peace movement that was focused on girls,” Pressley said. “I thought, ‘When was a time in my life when I felt totally free?’ It was when I was jumping double Dutch.”

This year’s event featured the first-annual Jump Into Peace Spirit Awards, given to the Rope Burners, 4Star Dance Studio, the Boston Slammers baseball team and Cathedral High School’s girls’ basketball team.

“We wanted to take a moment as a community to celebrate you,” Pressley said. “We acknowledge you, congratulate you and encourage you for modeling the very best of teamwork, of sisterhood and athleticism.”

Sharrice Perkins’ friends and original teammates, Vandi Oliveira and Samantha Pitts, joined Francis at the celebration, and watched as the newest generation of Rope Burners taught other kids to double Dutch. Francis and her team run a camp in Roxbury each summer through the Elmhurst Park Program, and they encourage all people to learn to jump, no matter what their experience.

“This brings people together, and I just love double Dutch so I want everyone to be able to do it,” Francis said. “Usually when people see it they get interested.”

Special guests at the celebration included Dr. Monique W Morris, president of the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, Rev. Liz Walker of Roxbury Presbyterian Church and Mayor Martin J. Walsh. Walsh joined Pressley to support those honoring lost family members and friends.

“There’s no stronger power of example than a young mother, father, brother or sister who lost someone being here today,” Walsh said.

Supporters from local community organizations also attended. Representatives from the Children’s Services of Roxbury had a table advertising their upcoming event, “Peace of Mind,” an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for largest human peace sign.

Harry Harding, director of training and staff development at the Children’s Services of Roxbury, said it was his first time attending Jump Into Peace.

“It definitely is nostalgic,” he said. “It reminds me of watching the girls do it when I was younger while I was playing basketball.”

Other community supporters included the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan and Strong Women Strong Girls.

“I want to thank all of you for being here today,” Pressley said. “To jump into community, to jump into healing, and to jump into peace.”