07/18/2022

Making Our Communities Safer:The Benefits of National Night Out

by Darrin S. Cassidy

Years ago, I recall playing outside until the streetlights illuminated. I would then head home and play flashlight tag with the other neighborhood kids while our parents gathered on the front lawn to socialize. Unfortunately, this type of behavior fell out of fashion somewhere between then and now. Blame it on whatever you will, but the best way to promote safe neighborhoods – the simple act of being neighborly – quietly faded away.

Today, people stay in their homes and rarely come out. It is astonishing how few people actually know their neighbors. Neighborhoods had to create programs soliciting volunteers just to walk the community. These programs came with signs warning visitors that people are watching. But are they, really? From my perspective, it seems as if those programs have faded away, much like the notion of neighbors congregating on the front lawn.

Replacing these programs, signs and friendly conversations with neighbors – while kids play in the yard – is social media and cameras. Technology introduced the world to handheld devices that literally put 24/7 access to information at our fingertips. But while apps let one stay connected to someone thousands of miles away, they have also all but eliminated the art of conversation, live and in person. After all, why congregate with neighbors on the front lawn when one can simply catch up online or via text!

In 1981, a young man named Matt Peskin recognized a need for unity among neighborhoods. He created the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), a forum to help residents share resources and ideas by harnessing neighborhood involvement to help keep communities safe. NATW proved highly successful and continued to grow as it was embraced by law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Just three short years later, the initial National Night Out (NNO) took place in 1984. Some 2.5 million neighbors in 400 communities and 23 states turned on their porch lights and sat on the stoop to interact and just be neighbors. The intent was to bridge the gap between community residents, neighborhood watch groups, law enforcement agencies, crime prevention associations, and other civic organizations. All would work in conjunction with one another to help their communities remain safe.

Today, 38 years after its formation, 38 million neighbors from 16,000 communities across the U.S. actively support NNO. The vision of one man from Philadelphia has far exceeded anyone’s expectations. NNO events have grown to full-blown town events that bring together all members of the community.

Introducing your community to the concept of National Night Out is your opportunity to be the catalyst of positive change. It will make the world a smaller, safer place while showing neighbors they have more in common than they might realize.

Darrin S. Cassidy, CMCA^®, AMS^®, PCAM^® is Branch Vice President with Associa Select Community Services in Chantilly, VA. He can be reached at dcassidy@scs-management.com.