Newark Community Outreach

Newark Community Outreach

Newark, like each of the FBI’s local field offices, has a community outreach program that complements and strengthens our many efforts to protect you, your businesses, and your families in concrete ways through a range of activities and initiatives.

Our recent activities include:

• The FBI Newark Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association recently “adopted” the Garfield, NJ, Boys and Girls Club, which serves almost 2,000 children. On November 19, 2009, FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun and Newark Community Outreach Specialist Kimberly McDonald attended the annual Boys and Girls Club Gala with Doug Opirhory (shown here at podium), who serves as president of both the Newark Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association and the Garfield Boys and Girls Club. Dun and McDonald had the opportunity to greet the youngsters attending the gala and discuss careers in the FBI. Also invited to the event were New Jersey community leaders, state legislators, law enforcement officers, and area educators.
• On October 13, 2009, former Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun, Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Velazquez, and Community Outreach Specialist Kim McDonald hosted the Egyptian American Youth Group meeting at the FBI Newark office. There were 17 guests, all members of the New Jersey and New York Egyptian American Group Organization. The special agent in charge, assistant special agent in charge, and community outreach specialist spoke to the group about FBI operations, counterterrorism, careers, and community outreach.

• On September 26, 2009, former Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun and Community Outreach Specialist Kim McDonald attended the 6th Annual Asian American New York and New Jersey Law Enforcement Gala. This event was hosted by FBI Newark's Citizens' Academy Alumni. The special agent in charge was invited to speak, and he recognized the guests being honored by the Asian American New York and New Jersey Law Enforcement organization.
• In the fall of 2009, we held a six-hour FBI Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST) on mortgage fraud. A total of 154 real estate professionals participated in the event. Our agents educated the group on the details of mortgage fraud and provided an inside look at FBI white-collar crime operations.
• In the spring of 2009, we held our most recent nine-week Citizens’ Academy, bringing together 29 community leaders to learn firsthand about our operations and programs. The program encourages partnerships and networking among community leaders. We plan to begin our next Citizens’ Academy in the spring of 2010.
• On November 23, 2010, Parry Aftab received the annual Director’s Community Leadership Award. Mrs. Aftab is a noted author, child advocate, attorney, and leading authority on Internet best practices, privacy, and cyber law. She has worked with the FBI and the Newark Division since 1999 at the inception of Newark’s Innocent Images Initiative.

Among our other ongoing efforts:

• Meeting with minority groups and civic organizations to discuss partnership and FBI community events;
• Sending our FBI special agents and professional support staff into schools, faith-based organizations, cultural organizations, and businesses to discuss emerging crime threats, counterterrorism issues, violent crime prevention, FBI operations, and community outreach initiatives;
• Supporting the Newark’s Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association to create relationships with community leaders and implement crime prevention programs and other initiatives that benefit communities;
• Serving on committees and boards for businesses, schools, community groups, faith-based organizations, and health services to launch drives to bring clothing, food, and gifts to the less fortunate during the holidays;
• Encouraging citizens to partner with the FBI by reporting crime in their communities;
• Participating in Boys and Girls Club events, sharing information on drug prevention, crime awareness, arts, health, careers, and leadership; and
• Hosting Adopt-A-School programs that put volunteer agents and support staff inside classrooms to mentor and tutor “at risk” children.

Visit our national In Your Community website for more information about our overall outreach efforts and our work in other local FBI offices.