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Dallas
Community Outreach |
 Dallas,
like each of the FBI’s local
field offices, has
a community outreach program that complements and strengthens
our many efforts to protect you, your businesses, and
your families in concrete ways through a range of activities
and initiatives.
The Dallas office is a strong contributor to community
partnerships because, as a federal agency with national
and international reach, we bring our own special resources,
intelligence, and expertise to the table. For example:
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Our investigations
into terrorism, cyber crime, gangs, drug trafficking,
civil rights violations, fugitives,
and other crimes—often worked in tandem with
local police, sheriffs, and other law enforcement
partners—keep
us on the leading edge of knowing the dangers that
threaten your community.
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Our partnerships with
local companies and institutions protect locally
against economic espionage and
acts of terrorism.
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Our assistance to crime
victims in the Dallas Division area provides
a lifeline to people
who have been harmed
by violence and crime.
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Our research of
crime
statistics spotlights crime trends and incidents
in your geographical location.
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Our research and
expertise in special areas helps defend against
specific
community issues
like missing
and exploited children, school
shootings, and violence in the workplace.
In the end, it’s all about people-to-people
contacts.
The Dallas Community Outreach Program works to put
a human face on the FBI and further strengthen relationships,
including by:
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Coordinating an Adopt-A-School
program that puts volunteer agent and staff members
inside classrooms
to mentor and tutor “at risk” kids;
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Coordinating
and hosting a yearly Citizens’ Academy
that brings a diverse group of community leaders
into the Dallas Field Office to learn firsthand
about FBI
operations and programs;
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Meeting with local
educators, minority groups, and organizations
to talk about what the FBI
can do with
them and for them;
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Participating in “Red
Ribbon Week” which
educates kids and adults alike on the dangers
of drugs and alcohol and encourages them
to wear red ribbons
as a sign of their commitment to stay drug
free;
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Participating in “National
Night Out”;
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Presenting topical
information about current fraudulent
activity affecting
our community
at the Dallas “Scam
Jam”’;
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Coordinating and
hosting a yearly Teen Academy to
provide education and
information
about
the FBI; and
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Participating in
the “Kids and Cops Day” at
the Texas State Fair as a member
of the “Kids
and Cops” trading card initiative.
Our recent activities include:
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 On March 20, 2009, Director Robert Mueller presented a 2008 Director's Community Leadership Award to the Dallas Chapter of the Society of Former Special Agents. The Society is dedicated to supporting and enhancing its relationship with the FBI by offering contacts, liaison, and information. The Dallas Chapter continues a tradition of partnering with the Dallas Division to serve as an intelligence base to assist the Bureau's investigative work. It promotes the FBI’s image through acts of philanthropy, including volunteerism at the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament, and supports the North Texas community by volunteering at the Dallas White Rock Marathon. The Dallas Chapter is a longtime contributor to the Assist the Officer Foundation, which provides assistance to police officers and their families stricken in the line of duty or suffering from a serious illness. In 2008, it was also the driving force behind the creation and dedication of the FBI Dallas Division Museum.
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In
September 2008, we held our latest Citizens'
Academy, bringing together a cross section of 50
community leaders to learn firsthand about our
operations and programs, not only demystifying
our work but creating new contacts and channels
for working together and sharing information.
We
plan to begin our next Citizens’ Academy
in September 2009. For information on participating
in the next Citizens Academy session, please
contact the Dallas FBI by e-mail at fbi.dallas@ic.fbi.gov.
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In
August 2008, we held our latest Teen Citizens'
Academy, bringing together area teens from
throughout the North Texas area to learn firsthand
about
our operations and programs and to gain skills
useful
in making informed decisions and choices. Teens
considered for participation must be between
the ages of 13 and 18 and not be high school
graduates.
We plan to begin our next Teen Citizens’ Academy
in August 2009. For information on participating
in the next Teen Academy session, please contact
the Dallas FBI by e-mail at fbi.dallas@ic.fbi.gov.
 Camp Quality—an international initiative—has a non-profit youth summer camp in Tyler, Texas for children with cancer. Each year, they hold a reunion of campers, their families, and staff in the Dallas area. This year’s theme was Superheroes. The FBI was contacted by a representative of Camp Quality and asked to support the event. The Dallas FBI responded enthusiastically, sending members of the Evidence Recovery Team, the Hazardous Materials Response Team, and the SWAT Team, who set up displays and vehicles. The event was attended by approximately 40 children and their families, who eagerly explored the FBI exhibits and interacted with our personnel.
Among our other ongoing efforts:
- Meeting with minority
groups and civic organizations to talk about what
the FBI can do with them and for them and hosting
town hall meetings as needed to dialogue on key issues;
- Sending
our special agents and other personnel into schools,
businesses, and civic organizations
to explain emerging crime and security threats and
to provide specific advice on how to prevent being
victimized by these threats;
- Supporting the graduates
of our Citizens’ Academies,
who often band together in local alumni chapters
to create crime prevention programs and other initiatives
that benefit communities;
- Encouraging citizens to
step forward to report crime and serve as witnesses
in court; and
- Distributing Child
ID fingerprint kits in coordination with
the National Child Identification program
at community events.
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