Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2008.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:
- Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
- Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
- Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
- Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods 'celebrate' NNO with a variety of events and activities such as:
- block parties,
- cookouts,
- visits from local police and sheriff departments
- parades, exhibits,
- flashlight walks,
- contests, and
- youth programs.
NNO has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation. Plus, the benefits your community will derive from NNO will most certainly extend well beyond the one night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDITOR'S NOTE: For a complete listing of
planned events in LA neighborhoods, see:
National Night Out 2009 - LA Events (pdf file)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| The History of NATW and National Night Out The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is a nonprofit, crime prevention organization which works in cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Since 1981, NATW has been dedicated to the development, growth and maintenance of organized crime and drug prevention programs nationwide. NATW's network has grown to include over 6,500 crime, drug and violence prevention organizations.
National Night Out, 'America's Night Out Against Crime,' was introduced by the Association in 1984. The program was the brainchild of NATW Executive Director Matt A. Peskin.
In an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts, Peskin felt that a high-profile, high-impact type of crime prevention event was needed nationally. At that time, he noted that in a typical ‘crime watch community', only 5 to 7% of the residents were participating actively. Due to the growth and success of these programs, he felt this percentage was too low. Subsequently, he proposed a national program which would be coordinated by local crime prevention agencies and organizations - but that would involve entire communities at one time. The first National Night Out was introduced early in 1984 - with the event culminating on the first Tuesday in August.
That first year, 400 communities in 23 states participated in National Night Out. Nationwide, 2.5 million Americans took part in 1984. The seed had been planted. In subsequent years, participation has grown steadily. The 24th Annual National Night Out last August involved 35.4 million people in 11,310 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide. National Night Out 2008 will culminate on August 5th. Over 12,000 communities are expected to take part.
While the traditional 'lights on' and front porch vigils remain a part of NNO, activities have expanded considerably over the years to include block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from police, festivals, neighborhood walks, safety fairs, contests, rallies and meetings.
Peskin said, "It's a wonderful opportunity for communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie. While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out does represent the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping to make many neighborhoods safer places throughout the year. It [NNO] is a night to celebrate safety and crime prevention successes - and to expand and strengthen programs for the next 364 days."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wrap-Up from the LAPD
August 07, 2009
National Night Out 2009
As part of a national campaign, the Los Angeles Police Department fully participated in this year's National Night Out. With communities across the country holding events to raise awareness, the LAPD held nothing back as the Department partnered with various organizations in bringing a night of family fun to the people of Los Angeles.
The Central Area event was held at the historic Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Festivities included food booths with various ethnic cuisines, vendors selling t-shirts, jewelry, and other cultural items. There were trained masseuses giving free massages and a live band which entertained the crowd.
Other organizations such as the Department of Animal Services were on hand giving out information on the services they provide. Central Area's Explorer Post was out there as well assisting with the event.
Northeast Area held three smaller events at locations throughout their area. One, which was held in the parking lot of a Target store, featured face painting for kids, free giveaways which were donated by Target and free pizza. The event also included a walk with police officers and community members through the streets of the neighborhood.
These were just two of approximately 50 city-wide events held as part of the National Night Out campaign. In its 26th year, the National Night Out campaign is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Thank you to everyone for all their hard work and planning in making National Night Out 2009 a huge success. |
