In Your Community
In Your Community
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Our community outreach program strengthens communication between the FBI and civic organizations, businesses, schools, ethnic and youth groups, and senior citizens. Through our interaction with these groups in Maryland and Delaware, we help reduce drug trafficking, fraud, and other crimes.
We are involved in many activities:
Citizens’ Academy
The FBI’s Citizens’ Academy enhances our relationship with local leaders. It is a multifaceted tool that increases public awareness about the Bureau and its mission and goals; enables us to hear and respond to community issues and concerns; strengthens relationships; and improves understanding between the FBI and the community.
Our academy is held in the spring and fall of each year. Classes meet at the Baltimore Field Office for seven Tuesday sessions from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., plus one Saturday session. It culminates with a formal graduation dinner. Attendees receive a tour of the office. The Baltimore special agent in charge makes the final selections of participants, who must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 21 years of age;
- Be a business, minority, civic, media, religious, government, or health care leader;
- Have no prior felony convictions;
- Live or work in the Maryland and Delaware; and
- Pass a background check.
The academy includes interactive demonstrations of polygraph and forensics. FBI instructors also make presentations regarding various investigative programs, including:
- Terrorism (international and domestic);
- Mortgage fraud;
- Violent crime/gangs;
- Public corruption;
- Civil rights;
- Crimes against children;
- Computer crimes and Internet safety;
- Espionage;
- The Maryland Coordination Analysis Center;
- The Field Intelligence Group;
- WMD/HAZMAT response, special events, and maritime program;
- Victim assistance/human trafficking; and
- Recruitment/hiring.
Maryland/Delaware Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association (MDCAAA)
Citizens’ Academy graduates are invited to join the Maryland/Delaware Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association (MDCAAA), which began in June 2005 and meets monthly. MDCAAA supports the incoming class and a crime prevention workshop; reaches out to schools; and sponsors a golf tournament. MDCAA members may:
- Attend an evening lecture series to receive updates on local and federal law enforcement issues and ways to keep the community safe;
- Nominate participants to the Citizens’ and Teen Academy classes;
- Be a member of the National Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association;
- Assist in providing resources, training, and best practices to Citizens’ Academies nationwide;
- Develop outreach initiatives that will assist in fighting crimes in the community;
- Tour FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia; and
- Attend special events at the FBI Baltimore.
Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST)
The Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST) is similar to the Citizens’ Academy; however, it is compressed and more focused. The curriculum educates participants on the mission, goals, history, and internal workings of the FBI.
- The time commitment for CREST is 8-10 hours, which can be conducted in one day or over a three-week period.
- The organization requesting the training selects the topic that best suits the audience—for example, cyber crimes, counterterrorism, or civil rights.
- The venue is selected and provided by the organization, association, or group.
Maryland Multi-Cultural Advisory Council (MMCAC)
The Maryland Multi-Cultural Advisory Council (MMCAC) is made up of Maryland community leaders from diverse backgrounds who are interested in assisting the FBI in building partnerships and understanding. The special agent in charge, other division personnel, and MMCAC members meet at the Baltimore Field Office every three months to discuss issues and concerns in various religious, cultural, and ethnic communities. Council members are sometimes asked to present at various FBI Baltimore ethnic training sessions. MMCAC and its members aim to:
- Share their cultural heritage and experiences with one another;
- Debunk myths and reduce fear;
- Discuss hate/bias and provide feedback for solutions; and
- Develop ideas for sharing information with schools, communities, law enforcement, and others.
Adopt-A-School/Junior Special Agent (JSA) Program
Through our Adopt-a-School/Junior Special Agent (JSA) program, we have adopted the James Mosher Elementary School. Our program runs during the school year (October-May), and fifth graders participate in the junior special agent program. Students completing their assignments receive JSA credentials at a June graduation ceremony and participate in a basketball challenge with Baltimore agents and support staff. Goals for the students are to:
- Help them improve academically and become better citizens;
- Provide an opportunity to meet the professionals of the Baltimore Division;
- Educate them about the FBI’s history, the types of crimes the Bureau handles, and the jurisdictional territory our division serves;
- Provide a chance to ask questions of FBI personnel and promote the Bureau as a potential career choice in the future; and
- Raise awareness on drugs, gangs, and anger management.
Teen Academy
The Teen Academy informs and educates students so they have a greater understanding of the FBI’s mission and goals. Through hands-on experiences and case discussions, we explain to our younger generation how the FBI addresses community concerns. The Teen Academy includes high school students—ages 14 to 18—from different areas and from public, private, and parochial high schools in Maryland. This event is held at the Baltimore Field Office during the summer for one-day from 7:45 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., when attendees receive certificates. The academy includes a tour of our facility and presentations on:
- The FBI hiring process;
- Polygraph, SWAT, Evidence Response Team, and forensics;
- Internet safety; and
- Violent crimes/gangs.
Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA)
Each year since 1990, FBI field offices have publically recognized the achievements of individuals and organizations in the areas of drug or violence education and prevention through the Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA). Our 2011 recipient was former Harlem Globetrotter Allen “Duffy” Samuels, who established Duffy’s HOPE, Inc., to serve at-risk youth in Wilmington, Delaware.
Some of our past DCLA recipients are: Sidney Ford (2010), E. Keith Colston (2009); Imam Yahya Hendi (2008); Bishop Leon Wilson (2007); Pastor James Gardner Mullen (2006); Roberta Mosby-Fontana, Village Community Center (2000); Thomas Dennis, Tenants on Patrol (1999); Brian Uppercue, Captain, Baltimore County Police Department (1998); Gwen Snowden, C.C. Jackson Recreation Center (1995); William C. Litsinger, Boys and Girls Club of Maryland (1993); and Michael M. Gimbel, Office of Substance Abuse of Baltimore County (1991).
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Surplus items are donated to the Delaware Hispanic Cultural Center |
Our other outreach initiatives include:
- Inviting minority organizations to the field office and holding roundtable discussions, providing opportunities to discuss community concerns, broaden attendees’ knowledge of the FBI, and strengthen partnerships;
- Participating in Career Days at schools and National Night Out events;
- Attending community meetings in Maryland and Delaware area; and
- Conducting presentations for businesses; colleges/universities; organizations; and senior centers.
Visit our national In Your Community website for more information about our overall outreach efforts and our work in other local FBI offices.