August for HUD's Nashville Office includes more than traditional summertime fun, it's also time for their new tradition of taking part in the "National Night Out Against Crime." To support the "good guys" and send a message to the "bad guys," on August 6th about 50 Nashville neighborhoods held celebrations and had fun at the same time. And once again this year, HUD staff supported their city and its good citizens while supporting six individual neighborhood celebrations.

Thanks to nine consecutive years of participation in the National Night Out Against Crime, the Nashville community is particularly well organized for crime awareness and prevention events. Other cities in middle Tennessee had similar events - including Murfreesboro, Clarksville, and Antioch - but Nashville citizens have become more accustomed to opening up their neighborhoods for "meeting and greeting," in large part due to this annual event. Cities throughout the state - and the nation - can learn from and be encouraged by Nashville's success, just as other federal offices can seek to be eager partners in their community's efforts.

Many neighborhood events included block parties with free food, police and fire department demonstrations, and a potpourri of other activities like flashlight walks, ice cream contests, parades and poster contests. The air all over "Music City" and surrounding areas was filled with the sounds of individual performers, choirs, and bands that helped everyone have a good time while sending a symbolic message to the criminal element to "get out of town!"

The first official Nashville National Night Out Against Crime event took place on Tuesday, July 30, 2002, when local neighborhood watch leaders, sponsors, contributors and organizations involved in planning the event and making it a success were recognized at the Nashville Millennium Maxwell House Hotel. Dr. Ed Pringle, Director of HUD-Nashville (left, with Assistant Police Chief Judy Bawcum and Assistant Fire Chief Kim Lawson), took part in an awards ceremony for local boys and girls who designed the best posters for this year's NNO event.

Among the Nashville HUD staff who took part in the celebration/solidarity event was Ron Buchanan (right) who visited the Spring Valley Apartments, a HUD subsidized development. HUD staff reported that at each of the August 6th events they attended, people were receptive to the information HUD teams distributed (which they obtained from the Community Safety and Conservation Division on Public Housing's page on HUD's web site.

A member of the NNO Steering Committee and HUD employee Terry Livingston said that in his experience, the residents show solidarity, especially during the Night Out Against Crime, because everyone in Nashville either wants their streets back or wants to keep them safe once they've been "recovered." Other secrets of Nashville's success include organization, education, community partnerships and registration, but most of all, community activism and participation underscore the year-after-year success. Nashville had a great turnout, a great time, and continues to make more and more neighborhoods safe and "citizen-friendly."