New York Community Outreach Unit
(212) 384-3559
Supervisory Special Agent Christos G. Sinos
Community Outreach
Special Agent Diego R. Redondo
Community Outreach Specialist Evelyn Vera
Community Outreach Specialist Kevin F. Mannion
New York, 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 to build trust and to educate the communities we serve through open dialogue.
New York FBI Employees Volunteer at Race FBI Agent with Student Girl Wears FBI Jacket in Front of Child ID App Poster
Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos Speaks at Police Athletic League Student Models FBI Raid Jacket
Our recent activities include:
In the fall of 2012, we held our latest Citizens Academy, bringing together a diverse group of business and community leaders to learn firsthand about our operations and programs. Our Citizens Academy program not only demystifies our work, but it also creates new channels for working together and sharing information.
Child in FBI Jacket
Designed to raise awareness of the issues surrounding missing and exploited children, the Take 25 Campaign encourages parents, guardians, educators, and others to take 25 minutes to talk to children about safety. With a focus on prevention, Take 25 provides free safety resources, including safety tips, conversation starters, and event planning guides to help communities host local events. FBI employees recently joined with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at events throughout New York in an effort to educate both parents and children about child safety.
Community Outreach Specialists with Dick Traum, President of Achilles International
Dick Traum (center), founder of Achilles International, with Community Outreach Specialists Evelyn Vera and Kevin Mannion.In June 2013, FBI runners and volunteers joined celebrities like Anthony Edwards in support of the Hope and Possibility 5-Mile Race to benefit Achilles International and the Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans. Achilles International encourages people with disabilities to engage in physical activity and to participate in mainstream athletic events. The Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans is one of the components of the organization and is devoted to assisting recently disabled war veterans.
The next International Conference on Cyber Security (ICCS), a joint effort between the FBI and Fordham University, will be held in August 2013. The conference brings together global leaders and representatives from more than 40 countries to discuss emerging cyber threats and enforcement at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus.
This summer, the New York Field Office will again participate in the annual National Night Out Against Crime. Citizens throughout the five boroughs of New York City will join forces with thousands of neighborhoods across the U.S. for the Annual National Night Out, an event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). In addition to the New York locations, more than 15,000 communities from all 50 states, Canadian cities, and military bases around the world will participate in the event.
Among our other ongoing efforts:
Community Outreach Specialist with Students
Speakers Bureau – The New York Division offers speakers for schools, businesses, minority groups, and civic organizations throughout the community on a variety of topics, including terrorism, violent crime, organized crime and drugs, frauds and scams, identity theft, hate crimes/civil rights, victim assistance, and careers within the FBI. To schedule a speaker, submit your request in writing to the Community Outreach Coordinator at least one month in advance. Please fax your completed Speaker Request Form to Diego R. Redondo at (212) 384-8187.
FBI Citizens Academy – The Citizens Academy program brings together a diverse group of business and community leaders to learn firsthand about our operations and programs. This not only demystifies our work, it also creates new channels for working together and sharing information. Our next Citizens Academy will be held in September 2014. There is a high demand for this program, and those who are interested in attending should submit an application no later than May 31, 2014. Applications can be requested by e-mailing Evelyn Vera.
Junior Special Agent BadgeFBI Teen Academy – The Teen Academy program brings a select group of teens between 14-17 years of age to the New York Field Office to learn about the important work of the FBI. Teens are nominated by their schools or a community leader and are selected based upon a number of factors, including their grade point average, an essay, and their community involvement.
FBI Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge – The mission of the FBI-SOS Internet Challenge is to promote cyber citizenship among students by engaging them in a fun, age-appropriate, competitive online program where they learn how to safely and responsibly use the Internet. Each month during the school year, the school with the highest score will receive an award and a visit from members of the FBI. School officials and teachers can register their classes for this free school-based Internet safety program.
Child ID appFBI Child ID App – The free Child ID app (for iPhones and Androids) provides parents with an easy way to electronically store pictures and vital information about their children in case they go missing—whether it’s a toddler wandering away at the mall or a teen who has been snatched by a stranger. Using the app, you can show pictures of your kids and provide physical identifiers such as height and weight to security or police officers on the spot. You can also quickly and easily e-mail the information to authorities with a few clicks. In addition, the app includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first few crucial hours after a child goes missing.
Mohammad Razvi
Director Mueller and Mohammad Razvi
FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award – This special award, presented on behalf of the Director of the FBI, was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America. The 2012 recipient of this honor for the New York Field Office is Mohammad Razvi, founder of COPO USA. Mr. Razvi was recognized for his work helping both children and adults in his community of Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Razvi’s organization’s mission is to assist low income immigrant families, particularly South Asians and Muslims, to reach their full potential as residents of New York City. COPO empowers marginalized communities to advocate for their rights and understand their responsibilities as Americans. It helps to build community relations among Muslim and non-Muslim community groups. It also works to establish connections between these communities and government agencies.
Law Enforcement Explorers SealExploring Post #2060 – Law Enforcement Exploring is a youth program that exposes young members of the community between the ages of 14 and 20 to the possibility of a law enforcement career. The New York Field Office has worked to mentor high school students through FBI Exploring Post #2060, which is named the Lenny Hatton Memorial FBI Explorer Post in honor of FBI Special Agent Leonard Hatton, who died in the line of duty while assisting in the evacuation of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The post was given the number 2060 in honor of Special Agent Hatton’s badge number. Visit the group’s website for more information about the Exploring program.