Newark, 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.
Our recent activities include:
Our most recent nine-week Citizens’ Academy, brought together 29 community leaders to learn firsthand about our operations and programs. The program encourages partnerships and networking among community leaders.
In 2012, Frank Biviano received the annual Director’s Community Leadership Award. Mr. Biviano is an employee of Bristol-Myers Squibb and a former state investigator that has helped to secure the FBI’s partnership with the pharmaceutical industry and has enhanced the FBI’s efforts to combat the influx of stolen, diverted, outdated, misbranded, unapproved, counterfeit, and otherwise degraded prescription medications.
In October 2011, the Newark Division Community Outreach Program hosted an FBI teen Academy at Piscataway High School. The students were from 9th through 11th grade and received presentations on FBI special agent qualifications and duties; community outreach; internet safety and cyber bullying; SWAT operations, ERT, HAZMAT, and the K-9 unit.
In August 2011, the Newark Division participated in the Livingston, NJ National Night Out event. The FBI Newark Office had an ERT display, two cybercrime monitors, FBI vests, Health Care Fraud ads, and the FBI banner.
In June 2011, the Newark Division Citizens’ Academy Alumni Chapter had a “Gang Resistance Seminar” for inner city youth held at Rutgers University. There were 150 youth in attendance and the seminar presenters were from U.S. Custom and Border Protection, New Jersey State Police Department, community based organizations, law enforcement, Clergy Affairs Unit, FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni members and FBI personnel.
Among our other ongoing efforts:
Meeting with minority groups and civic organizations to discuss partnership and FBI community events;
Sending our FBI special agents and professional support staff into schools, faith-based organizations, cultural organizations, and businesses to discuss emerging crime threats, counterterrorism issues, violent crime prevention, FBI operations, and community outreach initiatives;
Supporting the Newark’s Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association to create relationships with community leaders and implement crime prevention programs and other initiatives that benefit communities;
Serving on committees and boards for businesses, schools, community groups, faith-based organizations, and health services to launch drives to bring clothing, food, and gifts to the less fortunate during the holidays;
Encouraging citizens to partner with the FBI by reporting crime in their communities;
Participating in Boys and Girls Club events, sharing information on drug prevention, crime awareness, arts, health, careers, and leadership; and
Hosting Adopt-A-School programs that put volunteer agents and support staff inside classrooms to mentor and tutor “at risk” children.