August 2009 Themes for Community Outreach
Crime Prevention
With the summer coming to an end, many people schedule vacations so they can take advantage of the remaining warm weather. Encourage citizens to be especially alert for any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods during a time when many homeowners are out of town. Consider hosting a Citizen Corps Council meeting with a special focus on your local Neighborhood Watch program (if you don't have a program, use this opportunity to create one). Have Citizen Corps representatives explain the best ways to deter crime, and invite members of the media to attend.
Heat Wave
August can be stiflingly hot in many parts of the United States. Organize Citizen Corps activities to distribute information to ensure that citizens stay healthy during high temperatures, especially targeting low income areas where residents may not have air conditioning or adequate fans. You might also want to visit area retirement homes and educate residents on the importance of hydration and keeping cool. Organize fan donations from local business and have Citizen Corps volunteers distribute fans to needy residents. Provide local newspapers, television stations and radio stations with relevant information.
Water Conservation
Drought often accompanies the summer's high temperatures in many regions of the country. Contact local television and radio meteorologists and encourage them to discuss the importance of water conservation. Consider coordinating with one or more media outlets to organize a local contest to promote water conservation habits – for example, a "dirtiest car" contest would encourage citizens to refrain from washing their car during periods of drought.
August 4, 2009: Annual National Night Out
Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out (NNO) celebrates police-community partnerships aimed at preventing crime and drug use. Consider planning an event in neighborhoods throughout your community that unites citizens and law enforcement officers. Distribute information about what Citizen Corps is accomplishing locally and what citizens can do to help local law enforcement efforts. Formally register your community at NationalTownWatch.org and receive an organizational kit with how-to materials.
United We Serve
United We Serve is President Barack Obama's extended call to service, challenging all Americans to help lay a new foundation for growth in this country by engaging in sustained, meaningful community service. United We Serve has an emphasis on community organization and resilience which are goals shared by Citizen Corps Councils and partners across the country. The United We Serve summer initiative is June 22 through September 11, 2009- the National Day of Service and Remembrance. During this time, United We Serve Issue Weeks will focus on specific areas of service for the nation. You can align your service projects with these weeks and benefit from national media around similar events. In addition, registering your service projects and sharing your stories on Serve.gov enables volunteers in your community to reach you and possible join in your projects. Additional resources on Serve.gov include: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's call to service videos, an online tool where individuals and groups can find local volunteer opportunities, and toolkits to help create new service projects. Visit the following website for more details: Citizen Corps and United We Serve.
- Jul 20-26: Community Renewal Week
- Jul 27-Aug 2: Education Week
- Aug 3-9: Energy & Environment Week
- Aug 10-16: Health Week
- Aug 24-30: Disaster Preparedness and Relief Week
- Aug 24-30: Veterans Care and Military Family Support Week
- Aug 31-Sep 6: Interfaith Week
- Sep 7-11: 9/11 Remembrance Week