The 2011 National Night Out Against Crime will be Tuesday, August 2nd . “Night Out” is a national Crime Prevention event. It is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities. It is a great chance to reconnect with neighbors and share information with each other while learning more about crime prevention.
On-line registration for Night Out is now open. On our Night Out web page, you will find links to background information about Night Out, Frequently Asked Questions, materials for download and a link to register your group for an event. Just use the following link: www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/default.htm.
We also have a presence for Night Out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeattleNightOut. This will allow you to stay up to date with information before the event, receive crime prevention tips, and share your tips for hosting an event with others.
Map and Share your Night Out Events
A new feature this year, there is also a citywide calendar www.seattle.gov/police/events/nightoutevents.htm where people can choose to publicly share the location of their events with others. This map can be used to and see where else in your neighborhood a Night Out is going on. Additionally, you can use this form to create a page to promote your specific event. This feature is separate from registration and is available here: www.seattle.gov/police/events/nightoutsubform.htm
Department of Neighborhoods Small Sparks Grants Available for Night Out
Neighborhoods can get support for their Night Out events through Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Small Sparks Fund. The fund provides awards of up to $1000 to support community building efforts. Funds could be used for publicity, entertainment, rentals of tables, canopies, etc., picnic supplies, and materials for children’s activities, to name a few. To learn more and to apply, visit www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/smallsparks.htm. The deadline for Night Out event applications is June 30.
Last year we had over 1,200 blocks participate in Night Out events, and we are hoping to see even more neighborhoods participate this year. If you’ve never had a Night Out event in your neighborhood before, this is the perfect year to get involved! It’s fun, it’s free and this is the one night you can close down your non-arterial street at no cost.