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Our Team's Third National Night Out: Party for Safety

On August 7th 2007, a minivan-load of Adams' staff, associates, and Sam headed out to wander from one NNO party to the next. Each year we target a quadrant of Portland to visit. We call ahead to make sure the hosts are ok with our visit, then head off, happy to be out meeting neighbors at the parties. National Night Out is Party on Mt. Taboran annual event, designed to heighten community awareness of crime and drug prevention and the role that each and all of us play in prevention.

Our team also uses the opportunity for newer staff and associates (interns) to learn about Portland neighborhoods,and residents' concerns regarding crime and other issues. A great view of the partyWe visit an average of 11 parties...this year it was eleven on the nose, and between the parties we laugh, talk, sing (if you call it that), and write down any issues we heard about or make note of anyone we need to follow up with. This year we covered a wide range of parties throughout inner southeast, arriving at the first party in time to help set up, and leaving the last as dusk turned to dark. It was a great evening, with parties large and small.

Party in the neighborhoods‘Neighbors knowing neighbors' is the single most effective crime prevention tool all of us can use. The annual parties are fun, but the underlying value is that neighbors organizing and partying together sends a message to criminals that people are watching out for each other and for the safety of their neighborhood.

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement website is a one-stop source for information about Neighborhood Night Out, Crime Prevention, and Together Again...neighborhood organizing. Come August 2008, think about holding or attending a party in your neighborhood...and look for the minivan with Sam in the passenger seat.