Neighbors celebrated spirit and unity at the local level at National Night Out http://www.natw.org/nno/
The yearly evening event is a chance for residents to stand together against crime. Police attended block parties in my area and reminded folks to “get to know your neighbors” — a crucial step in keeping safe. The idea is: Watch out for your neighbors and they’ll watch out for you.
National Night Out is the first Tuesday in August. It began in 1984 and has grown to include more than 10,000 communities and 37 million people. NNO is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Research shows this strategy helps reduce crime.
Approximately 600 NNO block parties were expected in Oakland.
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/nno
Berkeley also had its share of NNO block parties: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Police/Home/NNO_2012.aspx
Next year consider organizing your own pot luck or ice cream social. Meantime, consider other opportunities to connect with your neighbors. Drop by and say hello. Introduce yourself to new folks on the block. Participate in local groups. This all helps build a sense of belonging. Knowing our neighbors helps keep us safe.
Other ways residents of the Berkeley-Oakland Claremont Hills stay connected include:
- North Hills Community Association http://www.northhillscommunity.org/
- Open Forum online list serve http://www.northhillscommunity.org/index.php?page=signup
- Vicente Canyon Neighborhood Association smattmann@mac.com
Earth Day Clean-up
Emergency Preparedness events such as CORE
- Vicente Canyon Hillside Foundation contact: janebarrett@onebox.com
