Community Outreach

Phoenix Community Outreach

Our outreach program supports the FBI’s mission of protecting national security, combating crime, and defending our country’s freedoms. By developing community partnerships and providing education and awareness through innovative initiatives, we continue to build bridges and encourage dialogue among the diverse communities we serve.

Our ongoing efforts include:

FBI Citizens Academy

The FBI Citizens Academy was established by the division’s community outreach program in 1993 and eventually adopted nationwide. This initiative has met with substantial success and continues to grow in interest and local impact. It gives Phoenix area citizens a firsthand look at the FBI from an organization and operational standpoint. Students are presented an overview of all areas of the FBI’s investigative responsibility. We host at least one eight-week academy annually. Candidates must:

• Have an interest in community affairs and current issues that affect the state and nation;
• Be a recognized business, religious, or community leader from a diverse population;
• Live and/or work within the division’s jurisdiction;
• Be at least 21 years of age;
• Have no prior felony or serious misdemeanor convictions;
• Have no misdemeanor or felony arrests within six months of application;
• Consent to a criminal records check and sign a waiver statement for that check; and
• Agree to attend all sessions, with no more than two excused absences.
  

2012 FBI Citizens Academy Phoenix class | High-res photo

2012 FBI Citizens Academy Tucson class | High-res photo

Junior Special Agent Program

Our Junior Special Agent program encourages young people to stay away from drugs, gangs, and violence. Special agents, professional support staff, and the community outreach specialist travel to the adopted school to conduct lessons that cover topics such as drug and gang prevention, Internet safety, anger management, self-esteem, teasing, bullying and rumors, fingerprint identification, and polygraph. The junior special agents travel to the field office for a tour and conclude the program with a graduation ceremony.

Shown above from left to right: John Timmons, Special Agent Manuel Johnson, Special Agent Sherree Johnson, Community Outreach Specialist Jane Bjornstad, Anna Lopez, and Dale Enos.

Since 2000, the Phoenix Division has been hosting the Junior Special Agent program at the Sacaton Middle School on the Gila River Indian Reservation, with a group of fifth or sixth graders participating annually. To honor the 10-year milestone, a special celebration took place on December 8, 2009. Special Agent in Charge Nathan Gray, Special Agent Manuel Johnson, Community Outreach Specialist Jane Bjornstad, and Public Affairs Specialist Neal Schiff recognized Mr. John Timmons, extended education/community relations coordinator, for his dedication to the program over the past decade.

Teen Academy 

The Teen Academy provides those between the ages of 13 and 18 an inside look at the FBI and offers a glimpse into the field of law enforcement as a career choice. During this one-day academy, Phoenix Division employees give presentations on terrorism, our Evidence Response Team, Internet safety, applicants, polygraph, and our SWAT team.

Director’s Community Leadership Award

The recipient of our 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Award was Dr. Mohamed Ali Abukar, founder and president of the Somali American United Council of Arizona.

Speakers Bureau

The Phoenix Division may be able to furnish a speaker for your educational, civic, or workplace-based organization. To submit a request, write to FBI Community Outreach, 21711 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85024. 

The request must be at least 45 days prior to the date of the event, and please include the location, date and time, topic of interest, and your contact information. Every effort will be made to honor such requests, although there may be occasions when investigative needs dictate otherwise.

Contact Information

To learn more about our community outreach efforts, please contact:

Jane Bjornstad, Community Outreach Specialist
Phone: (623) 466-1845
E-mail: Jane.Bjornstad@ic.fbi.gov

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