WHAT IS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT?
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign and event that brings together local police departments with communities and helps enhance partnerships and neighborhood comrarderie. National Night Out enhances the relationship between community and law enforcement by bringing back a true sense of community and togetherness.
Tens of thousands of communities take part in National Night Out from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August (Texas celebrates on the first Tuesday in October). Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and exhibits.
History
Late 1970’s: Volunteer Work.
Matt Peskin, founder and executive director of National Association of Town Watch introduced the National Night Out program in 1984, which began in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his tenure of volunteer work in the township, he often patrolled his neighborhood, assisted in patrol dispatch and shortly thereafter introduced the program’s newsletter.
The newsletter became a representation of the success that took place within the organization and the volunteer work put forth by over one thousand neighbors. Opportunity to publish new and creative content became more and more difficult as each month passed. Peskin began to reach out to surrounding townships and communities for assistance.
Early 1981: The Association.
National Association of Town Watch was founded only a few years later to provide community watch groups the necessary resources and assets to stay informed, interested, involved, and motivated within the community. Neighbors and local law enforcement across the nation supported the association as it steadily grew for the next three years. However, Peskin knew something more was needed.
August 1984: The Campaign.
NATW introduced National Night Out in August of 1984 through an already established network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, state and regional crime prevention associations and volunteers across the nation. The first annual National Night Out involved 2.5 million individuals across 400 communities in 23 states. However, the event grew to what it has become now to be more of a celebration of community and positive cooperation.
Today, 38 million neighbors in 16 thousand communities across the nation take part in National Night Out.
Quotes:
… preventing and solving crime is a community effort. National Night Out is an excellent program that helps the department build relationships with neighbors and create safer neighborhoods. This is one of the events we look forward to each year.
Chief George Turner – Atlanta Police Department
… the best way to build a safer community is to know your neighbors and your surroundings. National Night Out triumphs over a culture that isolates us from each other and allows us to rediscover our own communities.
Kay Bailey Hutchison – Senator
Please visit https://natw.org/about for more information and be sure to check out your local events by clicking here or for NY residents, here.
By: Jon Iacono