By Mike Kinney
Richmond neighborhoods came alive with about 20 block parties Tuesday night for National Night Out (NNO), the annual event that works to strengthen bonds between neighbors and public safety officials with the ultimate aim of making communities safer.
“It’s also an opportunity to get connected to local resources,” noted Michelle Milam, crime prevention manager for the City of Richmond.
NNO in Richmond started out with festivities at the Santa Fe Southside Park at S. 6th Street and Virginia Avenue. From there, dozens of cars transporting elected officials, clergy, NNO volunteers, Richmond police officials and others in the community caravanned to over 20 neighborhoods for block parties. The caravan ended with a final party at the Parchester Village Community Center.
“NNO is a great opportunity to come together, get to know our public safety officials and also to share important resources with one another.”
“I want to applaud Vernon and Linda Whitmore and the entire Santa Fe Neighborhood Council for having had one of the very best National Nights Out every year,” said Rev. Andre Shumake, a well-known community advocate. “It was simply amazing to see how they created an intergenerational environment. You could see the love and joy between our youth and elders.”
Jerrold Hatchett, who has been active on the Santa Fe Neighborhood Council for over 45 years, said one of his greatest joys is making his famous “Hood Chili Beans” at NNO.
“I learned how to make this specialty from my dad who was a chef,” Hatchett said, adding that police officers and firefighters are big fans.
At the party at 37th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, RFD Battalion Chief Victor Bontempo stressed the importance of getting to know one another. Over at Hilltop Community Church on Shane Drive, hundreds of neighbors gathered for a lively time, with kids playing on a jumper slide and lining up to get free haircuts in a high-tech mobile van.
“This barber is a real professional,” said Hilltop resident Dan Smith, whose 8-year-old son planned to hop into the barber chair.
Chevron is an annual NNO sponsor and employees participate every year.
“NNO is a great opportunity for the community to come together, get to know our public safety officials and also to share important resources with one another,” said Caitlin Powell, a Chevron representative. “We love being part of this event and spending time with our neighbors.”
In the final stop of the caravan at the Parchester Village Community Center, hundreds of people gathered despite a cold gusty wind. We ran into California State Superintendent of Education Tony Thurmond, a Richmond resident. He said NNO provides a place for public officials like himself to have deeper conversations that can help them better serve their constituents.
“It’s really great to be in my hometown of Richmond for NNO,” Thurmond said. “This is what we do to keep our cities safe across the state and the country.”
