For the 2025 National Night Out, our teams were on the ground delivering resources, connection, and support to their communities.
*Header photo courtesy of Ayman Siam/Office of NYC Comptroller.
In neighborhoods across New York City and in Newark, our teams stood alongside residents and service providers to celebrate safety and highlight the power of communities and government working together to tackle local issues.
The event was part of a nationwide campaign called the National Night Out Against Crime, which brings residents together with their local law enforcement precincts to strengthen relationships and build community. For our teams working to meet people’s needs across New York and New Jersey, it was also an opportunity to deliver vital resources and help residents get access to networks of support in their own neighborhoods.
Case managers from our Midtown Community Justice Center team linked residents to services in their area to help address needs around housing, employment, mental health, and more. Families with young children stopped by to chat with our staff, and kids walked away with toys after brushing up on their multiplication tables to get back into gear for the school year.
In Newark, community members had a chance to learn more about the programs and services offered at Newark Community Solutions—including alternatives to incarceration for people involved in the justice system, opportunities for young people, support with housing, and more. Fifteen young people from our youth programs joined the event, exploring other resources in the community while enjoying sports, hula hooping, and a bouncy castle.
In Brooklyn, this year’s National Night Out coincided with the 25th anniversary of our Red Hook Community Justice Center, where our team celebrated a quarter century of service to the community alongside residents, our community partners, and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander.
Families got access to resources for housing, employment, afterschool programs, and other needs from the more than 30 community-based organizations in attendance—all while enjoying fresh food and fun activities. “National Night Out was all about unity,” said Melissa Torres, Director of Operations at the Red Hook Community Justice Center.
In the Bronx, our team set up shop to raise awareness about overdose prevention and harm reduction, teaching their neighbors how to use life-saving resources like Narcan and fentanyl testing strips. Residents also had a chance to learn about the services offered at our Bronx HOPE program, where people who have been arrested can get access to resources and support from peers instead of appearing in court.
Connection, celebration, and community pride were the focal points of the National Night Out in Jamaica, Queens, where our team was joined by residents, the 103rd and 113th precincts, and other local organizations and service providers. Our staff took the opportunity to build relationships with community members and help connect them to resources addressed to their specific needs.
Building community safety takes all of us. Thank you to all of our community partners in New York and New Jersey for showing up for our neighbors this National Night Out and all year round!