National Night Out Promotes Community Safety

When I first heard about National Night Out, I thought it was something like the First Night celebrations on New Years. For First Night, cities like Boston and Burlington plan huge celebrations featuring live music and other fun festivities.

National Night Out, though, is a little different.

Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and Target, National Night Out is a countrywide campaign for drug prevention and crime. Law enforcement officials from different communities reach out and talk to neighbors about safety and crime prevention. Besides these talks, communities from all over the U.S. celebrate National Night Out through a variety of events, including cookouts, parades and block parties.

National Night Out began in 1984 with a mere 23 states. Now, 25 years later, communities from all 50 states take part in the campaign, totaling over 35 million participating Americans.

The event, now in its silver year, will begin nationwide on Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. with the exception of Texas, which will hold its National Night Out celebration on Oct. 7. Typically, National Night Out lasts from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is marked by lit porches.

National Night Out features a special program called Project 365 for all participants. Project 365 aims to improve neighborhoods through targeting one issue - say, pollution in a park or expanding a neighborhood crime watch - and working on fixing the issue over the course of 365 days, before the next National Night Out.

The National Night Out campaign also features a yearly competition between cities for awards.

Cities and states of different populations can enter contests for the Target NNO Award. There are a total of 10 categories, which include six that are population-related. The latter for categories involve "Rookie" communities (first-year participants), military bases, electric utilities top-ranked states and "All*Stars." "All*Stars" recognize individuals and groups that have demonstrated outstanding service in planning their local National Night Out celebration.

Organizers who plan for National Night Out can purchase promotional items such as hats, t-shirts and banners through the online "Superstore." Because supplies are distributed nationwide, the National Night Out Web site advises planners to order gear as early as possible.

For more information on National Night Out, visit www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/.