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.
Law enforcement partners worked together to educate local seniors and community members about new scams being used by cybercriminals.
This year, the Jacksonville Field Office joined forces with other federal and state law enforcement agencies to educate local seniors and their loved ones about the latest scams and technology that cybercriminals are using to target their pocketbooks. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, in 2022, victims over the age of 60 reported losing $3.1 billion to fraud, an 84% increase over 2021. The average loss per victim was $35,101, with 5,456 victims losing more than $100,000.
To prevent more Floridians from falling victim to elder fraud, FBI Jacksonville, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office co-hosted “Who’s Targeting You? The latest tricks fraudsters are using to get your hard-earned money!” in The Villages. The Villages is touted as the largest active retirement community in the world, covering 80 square miles, and is home to more than 130,000 residents.
The event was the first-of-its-kind joint initiative that included case studies, presentations, demonstrations, discussions with financial fraud investigators and crime prevention experts, and educational displays.
“Our senior citizen population remains vulnerable, and criminals are looking to take advantage of them in more ways than one, from financial schemes to romance scams,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Sherri Onks. “This event exemplifies the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to continuing to help our community avoid being victimized by educating them to be more aware of the types of scams targeting the elderly.”
More than 150 seniors and their caregivers and family members, as well as educators and other community leaders, attended the event and were encouraged to have ongoing discussions to reinforce safety and prevention protocols. Follow the ongoing efforts of the FBI Jacksonville team on social media @FBIJacksonville.
FBI Jacksonville co-hosted the free event, which shared information about the latest technology offenders are using to target senior citizens.
High school students at Clarksville Christian School in Clarksville, Tennessee, had an opportunity to compete against special agents from the FBI and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) in a push-up and sit-up challenge, obstacle course, and more at the Agents vs. Athletes event. Students learned what it takes to be part of a team that helps keep our state and country safe.
“We enjoyed partnering with the FBI and TBI to educate our students and teachers about law enforcement and what they do for the betterment of our community. What a unique opportunity for our high school students to see firsthand how special agents communicate, compete, and train!” said Chuck Cooper, director of student/campus life.
Above left: The FBI Nashville Resident Agency was all smiles participating in the Agents vs. Athletes event at Clarksville Christian School. High school students challenged FBI and TBI special agents to a volleyball game, push-up challenge, and more. Students had a rip-roaring time cheering on both teams. Above right: Download the FBI Physical Fitness Test app today and train like a special agent. The app provides a fun and interactive way to learn how the FBI’s Physical Fitness Test is administered and scored.
According to the FBI Diversity Report, as of May 2023, less than 1% of FBI employees are American Indian or Alaskan Native—despite representing approximately 2.9% of the U.S. population (source: U.S. Census 2020). This disparity highlights a gap in representing the communities we serve and demonstrates the need to participate in events where Indigenous people can see themselves in the FBI.
In an effort to address the disparity, the Human Resources Division (HRD) partnered with the Albuquerque Field Office and the American Indian and Alaskan Native Advisory Committee to take part in the Gathering of Nations in April. Over 500 tribes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico descended on the Powwow Grounds of Tingley Coliseum of Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque. More than 72,000 people attended the event.
FBI recruiters and ambassadors of the American Indian and Alaskan Native Advisory Committee attended the Gathering of Nations to help Native populations see themselves in the Bureau.
To HRD’s surprise and honor, organizers invited the FBI to participate in the Parade of Horses on both days. We saddled up four advisory committee employees to represent FBIJobs. On the first day, the FBI appeared third in the parade, behind the Albuquerque Police Department and the grand marshals. On the second day, the FBI went second, behind the Albuquerque police and ahead of the grand marshals.
According to one of the FBI riders, “On the second day, when we passed the emcee, he announced the FBI’s presence with enthusiasm and he made clear reference to the FBI’s efforts to address [Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons] issues, to which the audience cheered with excitement! I heard ‘thank you’ many times.”
Collaborating with the advisory committee prior to the event—which included reviewing marketing materials and prepping the onsite FBIJobs team to handle tough questions with understanding—and attending as FBI ambassadors were critical to ensuring a successful event. As the FBI continues to build a foundation of authentic representation with the Native American community and other historically excluded or underrepresented populations, we hope to see our workforce better reflect the American population.
An FBI employee connects with a horse prior to saddling up for the parade.
FBI employees were riders during the Parade of Horses at the Gathering of Nations in April 2023.
Participants toured the CJIS complex, a high-tech hub that provides a range of state-of-the-art tools and services to law enforcement, national security and Intelligence Community partners, and the general public.
Students learned about the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and the National Threat Operations Section and Center and got to visit with FBI K-9s.
The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division has been involved in the local communities of north central West Virginia for nearly three decades, since the opening of the CJIS main facility. The CJIS Community Outreach Program (COP) has been a familiar sight in elementary-, middle-, and high-school classrooms. At times, COP has brought the students to the CJIS site for activities, such as the Junior Special Agent Program.
On April 6, the CJIS’s COP graduated to a level of higher learning, hosting its first Collegiate Academy. Forty-five students from West Virginia University traveled down I-79 from the Morgantown campus to spend a day on the CJIS campus.
CJIS staff gave students a brief history of the division, followed by a bus tour of the CJIS campus. Representatives from around the division explained the processes for performing gun checks, reviewing tips from the public, and maintaining the technological infrastructure at CJIS. Staff also talked to the students about fingerprinting and provided demonstrations of iris- and facial-analysis services.
Before the day was over, participants had a chance to visit the firearms training simulator and to meet the FBI K-9s. In addition, a special agent from FBI Pittsburgh spoke to the students about the hiring process for special agents.
The day concluded with a CJIS executive presenting certificates to students during a graduation ceremony.
The CJIS Division’s COP has plans for another Collegiate Academy this fall for students from several area colleges.
The Office of Partner Engagement (OPE) hosted a one-day partner summit June 6 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. The summit brought together over 40 law enforcement partners, representing more than 20 law enforcement associations with which OPE liaises. The summit consisted of briefings and presentations covering issues at the forefront of law enforcement, such as transnational repression, cyber threats and the dark web, drug trafficking, officer health and wellness, and current technologies, capabilities, and resources available from the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team, CJIS, and the Criminal Investigative Division’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy team.
It was a warm, June afternoon at Theis Park in Kansas City, Missouri, when the FBI arrived. But the FBI wasn’t there to arrest anyone or serve a search warrant. Instead, employees donned rainbow-striped FBI shirts and smiling faces. The goal? Doing what they do every year: encouraging people to report hate crimes and showing members of the LGBTQIA+ community they have the full support of the Bureau.
FBI Kansas City participated in the KC PrideFest, sharing information about Bureau careers and the ongoing effort to raise awareness of the importance of reporting hate crimes.
“We’re proud of the continued working relationship we have in Kansas City with our LGBTQIA+ partners. Through this relationship, we’re able to communicate openly with each other—sharing concerns and identifying ways we can work together to make our community safer for all,” said Jeanette Milazzo, assistant special agent in charge of FBI Kansas City’s Criminal Branch.
The relationship, in its present form, started a little more than three years ago, when a series of events paired the FBI with KC Pride Alliance Vice President Clint Hylton. Hylton, a lifelong resident of Kansas City and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, was working with the KC Alliance to bring back KC’s PRIDE festival. After some coordination, the FBI hosted a vendor booth at the festival and a partnership between Hylton and the FBI began to blossom.
“In the beginning people were scared to let the FBI in,” Hylton said. “There are so many (false) stigmas about the FBI and what they do. Even I was a little scared about having them at PRIDE … but we came to the agreement this would be an opportunity for both sides to see each other in their perspective environment and the FBI was allowed to participate.”
The FBI’s goal was simple: make sure everyone who attended the festival knew they could come to the Bureau to report hate crimes—whether they were a victim or a witness. The FBI also encouraged LGBTQIA+ community members to consider a job with the FBI. And the FBI wanted to foster a relationship between law enforcement and the community.
From the first year, a partnership began to develop. FBI Kansas City continued to invest time and resources into the community—with the office’s public corruption and hate crimes squad joining local law enforcement to meet with area LGBTQIA+ bars and restaurants to discuss hate crimes reporting. Hylton joined FBI Kansas City’s Community Engagement Council, providing valuable input into the FBI’s outreach program and being a representative voice to the FBI on LGBTQIA+ issues.
“Because of the experience on both sides, we are seeing more understanding about law enforcement and our community. In fact, this year [at PRIDE] we had a huge turnout of FBI, state, and local law enforcement,” Hylton said. “I cannot express my gratitude enough to the FBI and their staff. I am looking forward to a safer community now that this started.”
Flash forward to June of this year: Six tables filled with law enforcement of all levels—local, state, and federal—joined together at the PRIDE festival. Law enforcement, including some in the LGBTQIA+ community, spoke to thousands of festival attendees about building relationships and cultivating trust. The Kansas City Police Department led the PRIDE parade with a police car, decked out with a new graphic and the phrase “Serving with Pride.”
“It is incredible how the change is occurring in our community and for law enforcement. Trust is being built back on both sides and conversations are occurring that benefit the community as a whole.”
Clint Hylton
Vice President, KC Pride Alliance
FBI Houston hosted a group of Cub Scouts to teach them about career opportunities in public service. The scouts learned about different parts of the FBI, such as art crime, and participated in hands-on activities, including an office tour.
FBI Boston was honored to have Girl Scout Troop 70228 visit the field office. The girls learned about the FBI through various presentations and hands-on activities, such as collecting evidence from a mock crime scene.
FBI Detroit’s community outreach and recruitment teams attended the Linc Up Rock the Block Street Festival in Grand Rapids alongside other law enforcement partners. Event attendees were able to learn about the FBI and receive a number of resources pertaining to safety and crime prevention.
FBI Baltimore participated in a safety day event June 3 hosted by Operation P.U.L.S.E. in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Public Safety Department and the Baltimore Police Department. This is the first session in a series of safety training to address local public safety concerns.
In April, FBI Buffalo hosted a cybersecurity event with the Girl Scouts of Western New York and the FBI Buffalo Citizens Academy Alumni Association. The Girl Scout cadettes watched various presentations and participated in activities such as a cryptoanalysis challenge designed to teach them about encryption and decryption.
FBI Omaha invited representatives of the Asian Community & Cultural Center to visit the field office to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month. The center supports and empowers refugees and immigrants. During the visit, the center’s square dancers performed.
FBI New Haven coordinated and participated in a TV interview with WTNH News 8, highlighting women in law enforcement as part of the “National 30 by 30 Campaign.” The initiative aims to significantly increase the number of women in special agent and FBI police officer positions by 2030.
In May, FBI New York co-hosted the 11th Annual Muslim Youth Career Day in conjunction with one of its community partners, the Council of People’s Organization. This event welcomed more than 500 school children and 23 law enforcement organizations.
FBI Boston hosted 30 business, civic, and community leaders for a seven-week program providing an inside look at the FBI. Participants attended sessions by various branches and participated in a “Day at the Range” at the FBI’s Regional Firearms Training Center. At the conclusion of the program, attendees were provided with a certificate of completion by FBI Director Christopher Wray and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Bonavolonta.
In May, FBI Seattle’s Special Agent in Charge Richard Collodi spoke at the 2023 FBI Citizens Academy graduation. Thirty-six leaders representing Seattle’s diverse business, religious, minority, and Indigenous communities graduated from the program.
FBI New Orleans arranged a tour for its Citizen Academy graduates with Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams at a NASA facility. NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility is a manufacturing site for large-scale space structures and systems located in New Orleans.
FBI Tampa, local first response partners, and Legoland made 4-year-old Super Cooper’s Make-A-Wish wish of being a superhero come true. Cooper fought the bad guys “ninja style” to save hostages and celebrated his heroism at Legoland.
FBI Minneapolis presented an award to Longfellow Elementary School for its outstanding performance in the Safe Online Surfing Program. This is the third time the school has received this award. Above, a student receives an award for scoring 100% on the exam two years in a row.
FBI Charlotte participated in the #RockOneSock campaign in support of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. People participating in the #RockOneSock campaign wear one sock to honor missing children and to give hope to families while spreading awareness about missing and exploited children.
FBI Cincinnati partnered with Starfish Assignment on the “Books and Badges” program. Agents read books to kindergarten through fifth-grade classes in minority-serving elementary schools and spoke to them about their careers.
On June 12, FBI Newark and the FBI Newark Citizens Academy Alumni Association hosted the “End Hate and Embrace Diversity” event. This program raises awareness about hate crimes while engaging with various community members and law enforcement agencies.
On June 1, FBI Columbia hosted a Teen Academy for 23 high school students throughout South Carolina at the field office. Students learned about various topics, such as career opportunities at the FBI and the Evidence Response Team, while also interacting with FBI professionals.
FBI Oklahoma City recently welcomed Tannon Elrod and his special friend, Flat Stanley. As part of a school project, Flat Stanley traveled to FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Back home in Oklahoma, the fun adventures continued when Flat Stanley got to see the FBI SWAT bearcat and the ERT response truck and received his own Bureau credentials.
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