Community outreach is about building partnerships locally and nationally that help prevent crime and protect our diverse nation.
Read about the FBI’s latest outreach initiatives, notable outreach activities and successes by Bureau partners and personnel, advice for staying safe from emerging threats and scams, career opportunities, and more.
On Jan. 26, the Washington Field Office’s Strategic Partnership squad hosted a basketball game between FBI employees and students from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C., as part of the partnership’s ongoing initiative to educate the public about the FBI and its mission.
Spearheaded by Community Outreach Specialist Nicole Mines, the event began with remarks from Kevin Vorndran, the special agent in charge of WFO’s Mission Services Division; Strategic Partnership Supervisory Special Agent Bridgette Trela; and Robert Contee, the assistant director of the Office of Partner Engagement. Contee, a D.C. native and former chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, told the students he was proud of them for coming.
“There are people out here who are committed to you because you showed up today,” Contee said. “And what I’m asking you to do is to keep believing in you. Don’t take your eye off the prize.
The FBI and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation employees welcomed Theodore Roosevelt High School students to FBI Headquarters on Jan. 26 to get to know the youth in their community. After hearing about the Bureau’s outreach programming for high school students, the teens met FBI employees on the court for an exciting game of basketball.
The students visited The FBI Experience before suiting up for the big game. Director Christopher Wray gave remarks at center court before tipoff, expressing his gratitude to the organizers of the event and to the students for their time.
“We hope we’re going to see you back,” Wray said, “whether it’s maybe for another game or maybe with your families for a tour of the FBI Experience or maybe our Future Agents in Training program or maybe even on the stage at Quantico receiving your badge and credentials someday.”
The young men won the game 35-31 in front of a packed house.
“I was shocked. I thought they were going to be a little slower,” said 15-year-old James Johnson, a sophomore. “But they were balling.”
“I was actually surprised. I was very welcomed—me and my teammates were welcomed. It’s a very good experience because we had never been here before. We didn’t know much about the FBI,” said Brendon Grant, a senior. “At first I kind of had a negative thought about the FBI and police, but this experience has definitely changed my outlook on police and FBI in general.”
The Strategic Partnership squad hosted another basketball game with an all-girls team from the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation’s DMV Hoops Academy on April 26.
FBI Norfolk Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan makes opening remarks at the civil rights symposium held at Norfolk State University on Feb. 24. Bureau staff made a variety of helpful presentations to more than 250 attendees.
On Feb. 24, FBI Norfolk held a civil rights symposium at Norfolk State University. Special Agent Alex Cava and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt discussed hate crime laws, and SA John Smith and Cava delved into a color of law case study. The keynote speaker, SA Skylar Barnes of FBI Atlanta, discussed a hate crimes investigation he conducted after a young man, Ahmaud Arbery, was killed while he was out jogging. Symposium attendees also got to meet with FBI Norfolk’s recruitment team and get information about the internship program.
At the end of the event, FBI Norfolk Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan presented a certificate to Dr. Anthony D. Sandifer, the newest recipient of the Norfolk Director’s Community Leadership Award. FBI Norfolk honored Dr. Sandifer for his efforts to deter youth from crime, illegal drug use, gang involvement, and violence through the development of educational opportunities, community awareness, youth organization collaborations, youth engagement, and research.
“The consequences of sextortion are being felt across the country. In an effort to protect the American public, the FBI encourages parents, educators, caregivers, and children to learn more about the steps they can take to shield themselves and their loved ones from this crime. We and our partners will relentlessly pursue criminals who perpetuate this deplorable activity.”
Christopher Wray
FBI Director
The FBI wants to warn parents, educators, caregivers, and children about the dangers of online activity that may lead to the solicitation and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual acts.
Sextortion involves an offender coercing a minor to create and send sexually explicit images or video. After receiving the material from the child, the offender threatens to release the compromising material unless the victim produces more material. These offenders are seeking sexual gratification.
Similarly, financially motivated sextortion is a criminal act that involves an offender coercing a minor to create and send sexually explicit material. However, these offenders demand payment not to release that compromising material. Payment is often requested in gift cards, mobile payment services, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. These offenders are motivated by financial gain, not necessarily just sexual gratification.
Victims are typically males between 14 and 17, but any child can become a victim. Financially motivated sextortion offenders are usually located outside the United States and primarily in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast, or Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines.
These devastating crimes have lead some victims to harm themselves and others to commit suicide. From October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors. The sextortion involved at least 12,600 victims — primarily boys — and led to at least 20 suicides.
In the six-month period between October 2022 and March 2023, the FBI observed at least a 20-percent increase in reports of financially motivated sextortion incidents involving minor victims compared to the same time period the previous year.
If you or someone you know believes that they are a victim of sextortion or financially motivated sextortion, immediately report the activity to law enforcement. You can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
For more information about sextortion and financial sextortion, see the FBI’s resources at fbi.gov/sextortion and fbi.gov/financialsextortion.
The FBI maintains its steadfast commitment to fostering diversity and excellence within its ranks through strategic partnerships and engaging events. From collaborating with organizations that empower Latinas in tech to reaching out to the veteran community, the FBI’s national recruitment efforts are creating pathways for talent from all backgrounds.
Latinas in Tech
In collaboration with Latinas in Tech (LIT), a prominent nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latinas in the tech industry, the FBI recently hosted a two-part engagement experience. With the aim of showcasing Bureau career possibilities and finding top-tier tech talent, the event featured a virtual fireside chat with Executive Assistant Director Arlene Gaylord. Breakout sessions covered the application process, STEM opportunities in the FBI, and the path to becoming a special agent.
Attendees rated the FBI sessions an impressive 9.5 out of 10. The collaboration with LIT underscores the Bureau’s dedication to showing Latinas how they can work in the FBI.
For a Latinas in Tech fireside chat, Executive Assistant Director Arlene Gaylord shared her inspiring journey from intern to the FBI’s first Latina EAD.
CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service
The FBI’s commitment to cybersecurity education and talent development was showcased through its participation in the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program. SFS’s primary goal is to increase the number of qualified students entering the fields of cybersecurity and information assurance. The program addresses the critical shortage of skilled professionals in these areas, which are vital for protecting the nation’s information infrastructure.
Veteran Recruiting
Recognizing the invaluable skills and experience of veterans, the FBI partnered with Veteran Recruiting to connect with this esteemed community.
VR, a leader in virtual career fairs for military personnel, has facilitated connections for over 1.4 million veterans with Fortune 1000 companies.
The FBI’s inaugural event with VR in January used four ambassadors to engage with 46 candidates.
In March, the FBI had several female veteran subject matter experts — representing roles such as IT specialists, a regional program manager of employee assistance program, a community outreach specialist, and management and program analysts in the Human Resources and Operational Technology divisions — engage with candidates.
The partnership, which includes plans for six virtual recruiting events this year, hopes to provide information and resources for veterans to continue their mission at the FBI.
These national events are just a glimpse into the FBI’s ongo- ing efforts to build a diverse and skilled workforce reflective of the communities it serves. The FBI continues to pave the way for talented individuals from all backgrounds to join its mission of upholding justice and national security.
FBI Sacramento, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service hosted a “Protecting Places of Worship” forum at the West Sacramento Sikh Temple. The event provided the Sacramento Sikh community resources and information to secure their places of worship, provided direct contact with law enforcement, and encouraged collaboration.
One of the key segments provided an overview on hate crimes, including what constitutes hate crimes and how to report them. Other topics included active-shooter training from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, funding opportunities, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency Non-Profit Security Grant, guidance from local law enforcement for enhancing security measures, and a presentation from the USAO about enforcing hate crime laws.
FBI Sacramento hosted an event to help houses of worship and members of faith-based communities learn more about how best to protect themselves against potential acts of hate and violence.
Georgia State Rep. Farooq Mughal hosted members of the FBI Atlanta Citizens Academy Alumni Association and employees from FBI Atlanta at the state Capitol on Feb. 22.
On Feb. 22, members of the FBI Atlanta Citizens Academy Alumni Association traveled to the Georgia state Capitol to be honored by the Georgia House of Representatives.
They received a resolution from the state of Georgia commending their efforts in educating and promoting public safety. The resolution was submitted by state Rep. Farooq Mughal, a graduate of the FBI Atlanta Citizens Academy.
FBI Citizens Academy programs are engaging six-to-eight- week programs that give business, religious, civic, and community leaders an inside look at the FBI. Classes meet in the evenings at FBI field offices around the country.
The mission of the FBI Citizens Academies is to foster a greater understanding of the role of federal law enforcement in the community through frank discussions and education. Candidates are nominated by FBI employees, former Citizens Academy graduates, and community leaders.
To find out more about an FBI Citizens Academy in your area, contact your local field office.
FBI New Haven hosted a holiday gathering for more than 50 alumni from the Future Law Enforcement Youth Academy. The program, typically held at Yale University and open to high school students age 16-18, is held each summer and provides participants with a behind-the-scenes look into the Bureau. FBI New Haven Special Agent in Charge Robert Fuller attended the event and heard updates from the former FLEYA students.
FBI Charotte Special Agent in Charge Robert DeWitt joined Bureau staff and members of the Vietnamese Association to commemorate the start of the Vietnamese New Year. DeWitt gave children traditional Chinese New Year envelopes, which symbolize good wishes and luck for the coming year.
FBI Knoxville Special Agent in Charge Joseph Carrico joined Bureau staff and members of the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association to distribute stuffed animals to children at the East Tennessee Children's Hospital Oncology Unit. In addition to the stuffed FBI K-9s that were "adopted" by division employees, the alumni association donated stuff animals collected through their membership.
On Feb. 23, FBI Salt Lake City personnel surprised four second-grade classes at Canyon Creek Elementary School. This visit stemmed from one of the students writing a thank-you letter to the FBI for our service and keeping the community safe. During the event, 100 students participated in processing and analyzing a mock crime scene. The student also got to read his letter in front of his classmates and members of his family.
Employees from the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division participated in the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Mega Bed Build near a local hospital. Volunteers helped build 300 beds in eight hours for underprivileged children in Harrison County, West Virginia. Founded in 2012, Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a nonprofit organization with more than 270 local chapters across the country.
Employees from FBI Albuquerque staffed an information booth at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which hosted pilots from 42 states and 12 countries. Bureau personnel shared details about the many programs and job opportunities in the FBI. An estimated 968,516 guests enjoyed the wonder of the event.
Employees from FBI Sacramento's Bakersfield Resident Agency accepted an invitation to participate as "celebrity readers" for a 3rd grade class at Stine Elementary School. They spent the morning visiting with students, reading books aloud, and discussing their roles in the FBI. Other local "celebrities" from various professions visited schools across Kern County to inspire young minds through reading.
FBI San Diego attended the San Diego Mom's Family Safety Fair, where hundreds of families learned about the Child ID App and were assisted in collecting their children's fingerprints. This event provided essential safety information and resources to the community.
In April, FBI Chicago hosted a Youth Academy, where several middle school students received a hands-on demonstration from a member of the Evidence Response Team and learned about online safety tips.
On Feb. 14 — Ash Wednesday — members of the FBI New York Citizens Academy Alumni Association and the FBI New York Explorers braved the cold weather and worked the food line at St. Francis of Assisi church in Manhattan. They served meals to more than 200 homeless people. The association also handed out “Blessing Bags” containing socks and toiletries.
Employees from FBI Philadelphia collaborated with the FBI's Office of Diversity and Inclusion to visit Lincoln University during the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Road Tour. More than 200 students attended the event—which celebrated Black excellence and culture—and learned about FBI careers opportunities, the FBI Honors Internship Program, and other collegiate initiatives.
FBI Albuquerque kicked off a mentorship program at George I. Sanchez Collaborative Community School. FBI Albuquerque Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda and Assistant SAC Ruben Marchand Morales made motivational speeches to the staff and students during the kick-off assembly. Additionally, the FBI Albuquerque Citizens Academy Alumni Association helped donate boxes of school supplies to support the classrooms.
Over 4,000 children with special abilities visited John F. Kennedy International Airport to participate in Operation Santa Claus. FBI New York sent a cadre of employee volunteers to welcome Santa and his helpers to this annual event, which helps spread holiday cheer to the community.
What We Do
The better we know our communities, the better we can protect them. FBI community outreach specialists in field offices across the country create and strengthen relationships locally and nationally with minority groups, religious and civic organizations, schools, non-profits, and the American people.
The Community Relations Unit at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., partners with national organizations to share information, support threat awareness, and develop meaningful initiatives.
Why We Do
These partnerships have led to a host of crime prevention programs, enabling families to stay safe from fraudsters and cyber predators, businesses to protect themselves from hackers and economic espionage, schools, and workplaces to safeguard against violence and illegal drugs, and all citizens to become alert to potential acts of terrorism.
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Contact Us
- There are FBI outreach specialists in your community eager to partner with you. Contact your local FBI field office and ask to speak with a community outreach specialist.
