Prepare for National Night Out

BY MEREDETH BARZEN

Minneapolis will take part in the 23rd annual National Night Out campaign on August 1. The event began 23 years ago when the residents of 400 different cities were asked to leave a front light on from dusk to dawn as a symbolic statement against crime in their areas.

Today, the program has evolved: on the first Tuesday of every August, neighborhoods are encouraged to host block parties in an effort to spread a sense of community and stave off crime. A single house, a block, a church, a park, or any community that wishes to get to know its neighbors better can hold the block parties. Once the location is decided upon, those organizing the party should visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/nno, or call 612-673-5946. They can register their party and print out flyers, which are available in English, Hmong, Laotian, Somali and Spanish.

hey are encouraged to distribute these flyers door-to-door in their neighborhood, inviting people to the party. It should be noted that applications for NNO events are free only until July 18, so act quickly. You can even apply to have your street blocked off for a party. Hosting a National Night Out event on your block is a fun way to increase your neighborhood’s safety and build a sense of community. Last year, 12 percent (over 46,000 people) of Minneapolis’ population participated in the program, hosting 841 events, according to the campaign’s press release. So, if you’d like your neighborhood to be part of a nationwide event, go to the website for more details, and block off your street and your schedule for the night of August 1.