After National Night Out, then what?
Aug 19th, 2009
Safe & Sound helps organize, and participates in, National Night Out events to engage more residents in supporting community policing. In a tough neighborhood like the one surrounding Columbia Park, the groundswell of positive police-community relations during the event was the beginning of something new. As Community Partner Al Hegwood stated, “I made meaningful contacts with people who have been just waiting for the excuse to start a block watch.” Mateen, also with Safe & Sound, talked with so many residents who emphasized how it was the first time they had ever seen families using the park.
Since then, Mateen and Al have been busy following up with residents wanting to start a block watch or just looking for resources to address the problems in their neighborhood. Mateen held a block watch startup meeting on August 17th at the Metropolitan Baptist Church, just down the block from the park. Over twenty-one residents attended. For anyone that has ever tried to organize a block watch, you know that having the support of this many people at the first meeting is a great start.
