In late May of this year, the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES) Principal Harold Boger was contacted by the Los Angeles School Police Department who expressed a keen interest in partnering with the school to host the local chapter of a nationwide community gathering called the National Night Out.
Every year on the same day, the National Night Out takes place in over 15,000 communities across the nation. This event serves to prevent crime and drugs, in which its overall mission seeks to “promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation.”
Boger immediately found this invitation a great idea and is currently in the process of organizing the event with the Friends of LACES (FOL) organization and the Mid City Magnet.
If the city permits this, the event will be held on August 7th from 5-9 pm down 18th street where the surrounding neighbors will come together, eat food, listen to music, and carry out the event’s mission and purpose.
During this night out, many community leaders will speak to the neighborhood and promote the importance of a cohesive community against crime. Then, the event will conclude with the traditional flashlight walk around the neighborhood.
However, if the city does not permit this, Boger still plans to hold the event on the LACES school campus.
Boger finds this national event to be especially relevant in the neighborhood where LACES resides in. “I have received many complaints from our neighbors about the seniors’ behaviors during their off-campus lunch privileges,” he said.
Some of these complaints range from littering on lawns to urinating on their property.
Boger hopes that in the participation of this event, the school will regain the trust and respect of the neighbors.
“LACES needs to reach out to our neighbors, and establish a united presence in the community,” said Boger. “We want to be a good neighbor to them, so they could be a good neighbor to us.”
