National Night Out 2010 unites neighbors against crime
August 18th 2010 05:17 pm
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 may have been just another day to you, but to millions of people across the country, August 3 was the 27th Annual National Night Out. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, the event began in 1984 as a series of community outdoor and porch-light vigils. Today, neighborhoods celebrate with block parties, games, and festivals. Other events include cookouts, parades, flashlight walks, and more. NNO is designed to bring together neighborhoods, businesses, and community law enforcement officials. After all, fighting crime in your neighborhood starts with understanding what it is you’re protecting.The National Association of Town Watch, along with the Target Corporation and law enforcement agencies, tried to include as many communities as possible by offering financial support. As mentioned in another post, even when times are tough, security and neighborhood community are still importantperhaps even more importantwhen it comes to preventing crime. When you think about it, should communities really need a reason to come together?Interacting with your community will also help alert you to suspicious activity. If you know who lives in your neighborhood, or is otherwise supposed to be there, you’ll also be able to recognize those who aren’t. Neighborhoods should remember that this sort of community interaction doesn’t last for only one night. In between Nights Out, NATW sponsors Project 365, in which communities pick problem areas in their neighborhood and take steps to improve them during the upcoming year. The results are announced at the next National Night Outand the process continues anew. You can get your community involved in NNO by checking out their website, and by supporting neighborhood togetherness.