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.
FBI San Francisco Hosts Teen Academy on the USS Hornet, a national historic landmark that participated in WWII battles and the Apollo 11 manned moon mission.
In November, 56 high school students from the San Francisco Bay Area boarded the USS Hornet to attend FBI San Francisco’s Teen Academy. The USS Hornet is a World War II aircraft carrier, first commissioned in 1943, decommissioned in 1970, and opened to the public as a Sea, Air, and Space Museum in 1998. The USS Hornet was also part of the Apollo Recovery Program, recovering the spacecrafts and astronauts from the Apollo 11 and 12 missions in the Pacific Ocean.
Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp welcomed the students gathered in the Hangar Bay. Special agents and professional staff from all FBI San Francisco investigative and intelligence branches made presentations about the violations they work and their careers in the FBI. A group of agents engaged in a panel discussion about what it’s like to work for the FBI and answered many questions from students. Forensic accountants walked the students through a follow-the-money activity where they analyzed mock bank statements for suspicious transactions.
The Community Outreach Team described the application process and career opportunities the FBI offers, encouraging students to pursue their goals and reach out with questions. And an agent from the Crimes Against Children squad gave the students a Sextortion Awareness and Prevention presentation.
A special agent bomb tech speaks to Teen Academy students about render safe tools and equipment.
Evidence Response Team members teach Teen Academy students how to lift latent fingerprints.
After lunch, the students joined members of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Evidence Response Team, and Special Agent Bomb Technicians on the pier. The students tried on a ballistic vest and shield, and climbed into the SWAT team’s tactical vehicle. The ERT walked students through different facets of evidence collection and taught them how to lift their own latent fingerprints. The bomb techs displayed the tools they use to analyze suspicious packages, including X-rays and robotics, and described procedures to render suspected bombs safe. Students also tried on the 80-pound bomb suit that protects the bomb techs.
Throughout the day, students mingled with the FBI personnel, discussed career aspirations, and learned how and why various employees started working for the FBI. A common piece of feedback from attendees was appreciation for how welcoming and friendly all the FBI employees were. Each student received a certificate of completion. Additionally, four students received awards for their application essays.
In September 2024, Hurricane Helene dumped loads of rain over the Appalachian Mountains, causing unprecedented flooding in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. Communities throughout the region were devastated—and some were even completely wiped away. The nation responded to help the victims, but numerous needs remained.
The FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association teamed up with WBIR-TV and Walmart to help spread some cheer this holiday season through the Hope for the Holidays Toy Drive. For eight days in November, collection bins in 11 East Tennessee Walmart locations accepted new toy donations. The toy drive focused on toys and activities suitable for children from preschool to eighth grade. Additionally, the alumni association donated money raised during its 2024 fund raising clay shoot to buy additional toys.
On December 6 and 7, thousands of toys were delivered, unboxed, and set up in Greene, Unicoi, and Cocke counties as part of the Hope for the Holidays Toy Drive. Alumni members, community volunteers, and FBI employees helped give them to hundreds of East Tennessee families in need. The generosity of the community and the FBI Knoxville alumni association helped eclipse the 3,000-toy goal, with an estimated 11,000 toys collected. These efforts brightened the holidays for children forever impacted by the flooding.
After devastating floods swept through Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association initiated a holiday toy drive for the hundreds of families still trying to recover from their overwhelming losses.
A CJIS employee guides students on a tour of the Central Plant on the CJIS campus.
The Criminal Justice Information Services Division’s Community Outreach Program hosted the fourth annual FBI Collegiate Academy in November. Fifty-three students from five universities, along with staff from West Virginia University and Glenville State University, spent the day learning about the FBI and potential job opportunities available at the CJIS Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Attendees participated in hands-on activities with biometrics, the Evidence Response Team, and firearms training and listened to a case study presentation from special agents. Representatives from all six sections of the CJIS Division participated in the job fair throughout the day.
In November, members of the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBINCAAA) traveled to FBI Headquarters to meet with Cathy Milhoan, then-assistant director of the FBI’s Office of Public Affairs, and to sign a memorandum of agreement formalizing the relationship between the FBI and the FBINCAAA.
Then-Director Christopher Wray and then-Deputy Director Paul Abbate greeted the members and expressed their heartfelt gratitude for its unwavering partnership and dedication. Wray also recognized the board’s invaluable contributions and tireless commitment to supporting and strengthening communities—a vital effort that advances our shared mission of promoting public safety and resilience.
About the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association
The FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBINCAAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that works in partnership with the FBI to promote public safety and security through community engagement, education, and outreach initiatives. Founded in 2005, the national organization provides training, resources, and governance oversight for nearly 60 local FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association chapters representing more than 53,000 business, civic, religious, and community leaders across the U.S., Guam, and Puerto Rico.
Pictured: Legat Berlin’s SSA David Rubel, CRU’s Ken Hoffman and Lorie Campbell, representatives from the University of Wuppertal, and officers from Dusseldorf and Oberbilk Polizei.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Sed posuere interdum sem. Quisque ligula eros ullamcorper quis, lacinia quis facilisis sed sapien. Mauris varius diam vitae arcu. Sed arcu lectus auctor vitae, consectetuer et venenatis eget velit. Sed augue orci, lacinia eu tincidunt et eleifend nec lacus.
FBI Charlotte Community Outreach Specialist Stacie Ward was named a "Community Champion" during the NAACP Charlotte-Mecklenburg Branch's Annual Freedom Fund awards banquet. In addition to operational demands, the Bureau strives to build trust, foster relationships, and create lasting partnerships with the communities we serve.
Congratulations COS Ward!
The FBI Newark Community Outreach Program and the Newark Citizens Academy Alumni Association hosted its annual Refresher Training Conference, inviting all past Citizens Academy graduates to reconnect and consider joining Newark’s alumni association.
The conference featured an engaging lineup of presentations, including:
- a Newark Field Office update on upcoming events
- an in-depth session on FBI crisis negotiation
- a TSA canine demonstration
- an overview of the NJ Transit Police's preparations for the FIFA World Cup
- a presentation from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security on cybersecurity and infrastructure protectio
- a presentation from FEMA detailing its disaster processes
Attendees said they were impressed by the information they learned and said they gained a new appreciation for the critical work and partnerships that went far beyond what they learned during the seven-week Citizens Academy. The event highlighted just how important it is to keep learning and staying connected with the FBI and its partners, leaving everyone energized and excited.
Recent FBI Teen Academy graduate Aleena Pintor passed away in San Diego.
Aleena, a 17-year-old student of The Learning Choice Academy in La Mesa, was set to graduate from high school this year and was interested in becoming an FBI agent. She was an active participant in not only the Teen Academy session but also volunteered at outreach events, including National Night Out at the National City location.
The outreach team in San Diego shared photos of Aleena at these events with the Pintor family, who greatly appreciated this special tribute to Aleena’s memory.
Human trafficking is the illegal exploitation of human beings for profit. Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, and it can occur in any U.S. community—cities, suburbs, and even rural areas. Whether it’s domestic servitude, forced labor, or sex trafficking of children and adults, it is a borderless crime without regard to who, what, or where the victims come from.
The FBI works human trafficking cases under its Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking program. We take a trauma informed, victim-centered approach in investigating these cases.
Get help
If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website.
If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information that is provided to the CyberTipline.
Employees from FBI Albuquerque, FBI Portland, and FBI Headquarters staffed a booth at the world-renowned Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. More than 800,000 attendees watched 551 hot air balloons from around the globe take flight. Bureau employees shared safety tips and information about outreach programming and FBI jobs.
Staff from FBI New York participate in a Faith and Blue event in Times Square. Over the past few years, Faith and Blue has become one of the largest, most collaborative police-community outreach initiatives, reaching all 50 states and connecting hundreds of faith-based organizations and law enforcement agencies.
In October, FBI Seattle hosted 34 high school juniors and seniors from across the state of Washington for its Teen Academy program. Participants engaged in ERT and SWAT activities and learned about other law enforcement and investigative functions of the Bureau.
FBI Buffalo community outreach specialists collaborated with the City of Buffalo and Buffalo Public Schools to conduct a Faith and Blue event at East Community High School. During this event, 60 students participated in interactive online-safety sessions and a forensics activity.
In November 2024, community outreach specialists at FBI Minneapolis joined members of the local Citizens Academy Alumni Association for the Bags of Hope packing event. The event supports survivors of human/sex trafficking with personal necessities such as clothing, toiletries, and a handwritten note of hope and support to the survivors.
In November, staff from FBI Jackson attended a Diwali event at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. Hundreds of participants lit candles, made wishes, and held a prayer ceremony. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is an important day in the Hindu calendar with a focus on messages of faith, hope, goodness, and community.
Employees at the Washington Field Office collected nearly 2,000 books for students in the local area. Staff visited J.C. Nalle Elementary School in Washington to deliver the books to children participating in the FBI’s Junior Special Agent program, an initiative that teaches students about conflict resolution and drug and violence prevention.
FBI Detroit partnered with Vernor Elementary School to host a Junior Special Agent Program to 43 third-grade students. Over six sessions, the students learned about Bureau careers, bullying, internet safety, and FBI investigative techniques through briefings and interactive demonstrations.
In November 2024, community outreach specialists from FBI Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, and Minneapolis joined forces to staff a booth at the annual conference for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities in Aurora, Colorado. During the three-day event, the team shared information about the Bureau’s Collegiate Academy program and other outreach activities.
FBI Milwaukee in collaboration with Marquette University’s Criminology and Law Society is hosting the Bureau’s Outreach to College and University Students program during the 2024-25 academic year. Monthly meetings will cover multiple topics including the Evidence Response Team’s duties, which was spotlighted during December 3 session.
from the FBI CJIS Division joined the local FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association on a visit to the Genesis Youth Crisis Center. They enjoyed time with 35 residents and visited with On Eagles’ Wings Therapeutic Mini Horses, an organization that provides a safe environment through equine-assisted activities.
In November, FBI Norfolk attended the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Corn Harvest Pow Wow in Courtland, Virginia. Staff shared information about FBI careers, the Honors Internship Program, and the various FBI Community Outreach programs. Pictured is a young Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) dancer trying on an FBI vest.
Even the Bearcat wants to join the FBI! Staff from FBI Cincinnati participated in the University of Cincinnati’s police demo day. Employees were on hand to showcase some of the Bureau’s gear and share career opportunities with students.
Personnel from FBI Philadelphia hosted an FBI Community Awareness Presentation for the Gloucester County NAACP at the Rowan College of South Jersey in Sewell, New Jersey. CAP programs are designed to build trust and strengthen relationships between the Bureau and communities by engaging community members in seminars taught by FBI staff.
FBI Detroit employees attended the MiCareerQuest Southeast 2024. More than 8,000 high school students and chaperones learned about over 200 high-demand career opportunities. The Bureau team earned the event’s Student Choice Award for top technology organization.
FBI Anchorage staffed a booth at the 2024 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, focusing on recruiting and community outreach with the Alaska Native community. The division’s Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day provided remarks to update members about FBI Anchorage’s criminal and national threat priorities.
On December 13, FBI Philadelphia’s Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs briefed local law enforcement and security partners during the monthly Delaware Valley Intelligence Center Roundtable meeting. DVIC is a regional fusion center that uses a proactive and collaborate approach to forecast and prevent threats, while preserving people’s privacy and civil rights.
The FBI New Haven Citizens Academy Alumni Association held a coat drive for veterans on December 16. The association distributed more than 500 new coats to VA hospital locations in West Haven and Newington, Connecticut.
Stay Connected
Subscribe to Email Alerts
- Check the Focus on Outreach box under the News category.
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.
