Atlanta, 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 Atlanta 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:
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.
Our partnerships with local companies and institutions protect locally against economic espionage and acts of terrorism.
Our assistance to crime victims in the Atlanta area provides a lifeline to people who have been harmed by violence and crime.
Our research of crime statistics spotlights crime trends and incidents in your geographical location.
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 Atlanta Community Outreach Program works to put a human face on the FBI and further strengthen relationships, including by:
Coordinating an Adopt-a-School program that puts volunteer agent and staff members inside classrooms to mentor and tutor “at risk” kids;
Coordinating and hosting a yearly Citizens’ Academy that brings a diverse group of community leaders into the Atlanta office to learn firsthand about FBI operations and programs; and
Meeting with local educators, minority groups, and organizations to talk about how the FBI can work with them on issues of concern.
Our recent activities include:
In a ceremony at FBI Headquarters, Ms. Soumaya Khalifa, founder and executive director of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta, accepted the 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Award. The Islamic Speakers Bureau offers interactive workshops and seminars to thousands of people in the Atlanta area to provide insight into how American Muslims live their daily lives.
Our Citizens’ Academy brings together a cross section of approximately 25 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. For information on participating in the next session, please contact the Atlanta FBI community outreach coordinator by e-mail at fbi.atlanta@ic.fbi.gov.
In August, we held our latest Youth Leadership Academy, bringing together area teens from throughout Georgia 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 14 and 18 and not be high school graduates. For information on participating in the next Youth Leadership Academy session, please contact the Atlanta FBI community outreach coordinator by e-mail at fbi.atlanta@ic.fbi.gov.
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;
Offering Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST) to increase public awareness and provide an avenue for the community to learn about the FBI and for the FBI to hear concerns from the community that it serves. For further information about CREST, please contact the Atlanta FBI community outreach coordinator by e-mail at fbi.atlanta@ic.fbi.gov.
Forming and hosting a Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee (MCAC) consisting of community leaders who come together with the FBI to 1) share their cultural heritage and experiences; 2) debunk myths; 3) reduce fear; 4) discuss hate/bias and provide feedback for solutions; and 5) develop ideas for sharing information with others;
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.