National Night Out July 29, 2008
Posted by besachan in Events, Resources.Tags: Add new tag, block watches, Events, neighborhood
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National Night Out (NNO) is holding its 25th annual nationwide celebration this coming Tuesday, August 5th, 2008. It is a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW).
From their website: ‘Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 35 million people participated in National Night Out 2007.’
The GOALS of National Night Out are 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.
Communities celebrate NNO by leaving their porch lights on throughout the night and joining together with thieir Neighbors and Blocks to ‘celebrate’ many different activities, including block parties, cookouts, picnics, and other neighborhoods events.
Some local NNO celebrations include:
Hill District;
Oakland; and
Beechview
Just last friday, the Tribune-Review published an article encourgaing communities to start block watches – you can use next Tuesday’s Nationwide Celebration to generate momentum in your neighborhood.
For local information or support, contact one of National Night Out’s local PIttsburgh Community Organizer’s:
Marlene Jackson of the Dinwiddie Community Alliance at dinwiddie_comm-alliance(at)yahoo.com, or
Lt. Nelson Mitchell of the Port Authority Police at nmitchell(at)portauthority.org
Enjoy your National Night Out!
Some public safety tips from real cases July 7, 2008
Posted by Program Coordinator in Resources.Tags: block watches, city government, crime maps, east end, east liberty, gangs, government, hotspot, MONA, phone tree, strategies
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Last week, I dropped in on the Mellon’s Orchard Neighborhood Association (MONA) in East Liberty to get a first-hand look at what an active, organized block watch does. One strategy they employ is compiling a block map – literally, a map of their entire neighborhood with residents’ names and numbers listed on each building. This helps them to identify and track crime hotspots, and notify neighbors of incidents in their surroundings.
- Need a map showing all the buildings in your neighborhood to get started? Check the City’s website for help. Use the interactive grid to locate your neighborhood; download the lot map once you’ve found it.
Another strategy folks have employed is a phone tree. A phone tree, coordinated by a block captain, is an fast, efficient way to disseminate information throughout the neighborhood. Some folks even do an e-mail tree. Use it to spread news about a crime wave, or to alert neighbors when you’ve called 911.
- For a sample phone tree worksheet, click here. (Substitute an e-mail address for “Address” if it better suits your watch.)
Need some information concerning a particular issue you’re having? The U.S. Conference of Mayors has an excellent collection of real-life cases with information about what neighbors have done to respond to their neighborhoods’ crime. For more information, click below:
South Oakland Block Watch Events July 3, 2008
Posted by Program Coordinator in Events.Tags: block watches, east end, oakland, south oakland, volunteers
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The South Oakland Block Watch Safety Alliance (SBSA) is recruiting volunteers throughout South Oakland from each block or street to become block watch captains and co-captains. SBSA is also sponsoring a number of community clean-ups. Check the link below to read an e-mail from Holly, the SBSA’s director, with volunteer opportunities through the rest of the summer.
If you would like to volunteer in any of these events or have general questions, email sbsaemail (at) yahoo.com.
Kick-Off Discussion June 30, 2008
Posted by Program Coordinator in Resources.Tags: block watches, challenges, kick-off, strategies
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We asked our block watchers the following questions in small group discussion:
- What can you do to keep your neighborhood safe?
- What causes crime in your neighborhood?
- What are your obstacles, assets, and resources?
- What strategies have you found success with? What strategies haven’t you found success with?
And here’s what they had to say…. (more…)
