Local law enforcement agencies teamed up with Crimestoppers Inc. Thursday to promote the upcoming National Night Out festivities in the New Orleans area. Crimestoppers Executive Director Darlene Cusanza also revealed the names of the neighborhood groups that won sponsorship for their Tuesday evening events through the agency’s National Night Out contest.

 Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans

“This is a really special week for everyone that’s here,” Cusanza said, motioning to the crowd behind her, including U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand, Harahan Police Chief Mac Dickinson, Commander Chris Goodly of the New Orleans Police Department’s 5th District.

The contest invited local civic or community groups to share their plans for this year’s Night Out, the nationally-celebrated block party that encourages neighbors to get to know one another and fight crime. Local law enforcement agencies this year voted to move the event from Aug. 2 to Oct. 11 so attendees would have cooler weather.

The civic groups were also asked to share their creative efforts to keep their neighborhoods safe and how Crimestoppers could help. The prizes included money for refreshments, a visit from local law enforcement and Crimestoppers VIPs, T-shirts and other goodies.

The large-audience category winner was Reconnect Nola, a non-profit organization that will hold its Night Out event at Lemann Playground, 538 N. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Though based in New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood, Chairman Wayne “D.J. Wild Wayne” Benjamin said the group reached beyond its borders to invite residents from all of New Orleans.

“I think the really big thing is to invite the kids and the younger kids to be a part of this,” said Benjamin, who noted that they are most often the perpetrators or victims of crime. “We need to involve them in the process.

The small-audience winner was Night Out Against Crime party that will be held at Sampson Playground, 3100 Louisa St., New Orleans, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The party, sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and A Desire for Change, will feature a D.J. and peace-themed dance contests, chalk art and sports, according to organizer Ahmane Glover.

Crimestoppers handed out a surprised third-place award to the Multifamily Council of Greater New Orleans, an affiliate of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans. Their carnival-style party will be held at 733 Trisha Court, Westwego, from 5-7 p.m.

••••••••

For more information about Crimestoppers-affiliated Night Out gatherings or to receive Crimestoppers materials for a Night Out event, call 504.837.8477 or visit the group’s website at www.crimestoppersgno.org.

 Come out to Lemann Playground(Claiborne @ Lafitte) Tuesday October 11th for Night Out Against Crime! Crimestoppers, the Ekyaha Project, and many more will be in attendance! Free Food, the Fruit Wizard demonstration, and a movie viewing of Shell Shocked! Starts at 5pm.

Congratulations to the winners of our Night Out Against Crime Contest, ReConnectNOLA at Lemann Playground, and the Sampson Park/Desire Area!

 It’s not too late to request Crimestoppers material for your Night Out Against Crime!  Contact our office at (504) 837- 8477 by Wednesday, October 5th to request materials for your party!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            
September 9, 2011
Contact:
Ryan Berni
504-658-4945 (office)         
504-621-9504 (cell)
MAYOR LANDRIEU URGES PARTICIPATION IN CRIME ACTION SUMMIT ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2011 
Calls Residents to Action on City’s Most Pressing Issue
NEW ORLEANS, LA— In keeping with his commitment to improve public safety and reform the criminal justice system, Mayor Landrieu is calling all residents of New Orleans to join him for a crime action summit on Saturday, September 17, 2011.  The event will be held from 10am to 12 noon at the UNO Lakefront Arena. The summit will officially launch the “S.O.S NOLA: Saving Our Sons” campaign.
“The rate at which our young people are killing each other in this city is unnatural and unacceptable,” said Landrieu. “Murder is the most pressing issue facing our city. We must rally as a community to solve this problem. It won’t happen with the police alone. It can’t just be the criminal justice system in a room. There are a number of things each resident of New Orleans can do to make our city safer and more prosperous. At the end of this summit, each person will have marching orders in our battle for the future of our City.”
 
The Mayor said in his address, “This is the model – prevention, intervention, interdiction, prosecution, rehabilitation, and re-entry – we will initiate a comprehensive and collaborative response to the emergency.”
 
He continued, “Change will not just come from the top down on this one. We need all hands on deck. Cops and judges, teachers and coaches, business people and
clergy, brothers and sisters, parents and families. And now, it involves you. Each and every one of you. Murder in New Orleans is a public health epidemic that threatens our entire city and everyone needs to help find solutions that work. I am calling on everyone – from every neighborhood across this city – to join me this summer at the City’s first “Crime Action Network” summit. Show up and speak out. Come to listen to each other and to learn from each other. Come to create an action plan for how to address this problem that touches us all. And most importantly, be prepared to get to work.”
 
Residents interested in registering for the Summit should visit http://www.nola.gov/crime-summit.

This Saturday @ 10am @ the UNO LakeFront Arena….Come join ReConnectNOLA at the Mayor’s Crime Summit: Saving Our Sons!

The New Orleans League of Women Voters Announces a Public Forum on Redistricting

“THE POLITICAL EFFECTS OF REDISTRICTING ON ORLEANS AND JEFFERSON PARISHES”

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 7:00 PM

CHAPEL OF THE HOLY COMFORTER

2200 LAKE SHORE DRIVE

PANELISTS: Clancy DuBos, Dr. Silas Lee, Greg Rigamer

PUBLIC INVITED

nolahoods:

Join Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Commissioner James Carter for:

“Saving Our Sons” Crime Action Summit

Saturday, Sept. 17^th 2011

10:00 – 12:00

UNO Lakefront Arena (6801 Franklin Ave.)

We must rally as a community to solve this problem. This will not be a summit of false hope and…

Join Prevent Now ,

Wednesday, September 7, 2011 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

@ New Orleans Children’s Advocacy Center 1101 Calhoun St.

The program addresses the problem of child sexual abuse, the human & economic impact and what the community is doing to prevent abuse.

The presentation is free. Your help is needed not your money.

Become a part of the solution!

for more information, please call 504-894-5484 or email nocaccor@chnola.org

ONE SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILD IS ONE TOO MANY!

Breakfast will be served.

nolahoods:

Pursuant to Section 3-105(2)(b)(ii) of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans, the New Orleans City Council is now accepting applications from interested parties to fill the role of Interim Councilmember-at-Large due to a vacancy created by the resignation of Councilmember-at-Large Arnie…

nolahoods:

The Grand Re-Opening of APEX Youth Center, the flagship center for APEX Community Advancement, Inc. is September 2-3, 2011, Labor Day Weekend. Our flagship youth center is still located at the very heart or, if you will, the very APEX of New Orleans. APEX Youth Center, located in Broadmoor, is at…