On Tuesday hundreds of Richmonders will gather in more than two dozen neighborhoods citywide for a night of dancing, socializing and community-building in celebration of the 41st annual National Night Out.
Since 1984, the National Night Out event has promoted citizen-police partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie through an evening of celebration. On the first Tuesday of August, neighborhoods host block parties to encourage neighbors to get to know each other and to meet local police, city and fire officials.
This year, more than 38 million people are expected to congregate in more than 17,000 communities nationwide. Richmond is one of 337 California cities participating in the annual event, with 28 neighborhood gatherings planned. Or, for those who prefer an alternative to the event, RYSE is hosting its eighth Night Out for Safety and Liberation.
Event kicks off in Point Richmond neighborhood
The night will commence with a kick-off party in the Point Richmond Triangle, 128 W. Richmond Ave., at 5 p.m. The gathering will be hosted by the Point Richmond Neighborhood Council and will feature free food, drinks, music and opportunities to chat with personnel from Richmond’s police and fire departments as well as city officials.
Philip Rosenthal, president of Point Richmond’s Neighborhood Council, said they’re striving this year to cultivate a more personal, relaxed atmosphere for the evening. In years past, he said, Point Richmond has held robust, street party-style events that perhaps distracted neighbors from the National Night Out’s original intentions.
“We decided to ‘right size’ the event,” he told Richmondside. “And bring it back into a neighborhood event, getting to know each other, talking about neighborhood concerns, not having people stroll in and out, but instead really gather.”
The catered food aligns with the neighborhood-centered focus for the evening, as local Richmond restaurant El Sol will be providing dinner courtesy of a $2,000 grant from the city.
Rosenthal hopes to hone in on the community-building aspects and has a specific goal for each attendee to meet six new people — among which, Rosenthal hopes, will be a local law-enforcement officer or other first-responder.
“As neighborhood council president, I’ve gotten to know so many of our first responders, police and fire, and it’s really quite remarkable. In a world where everyone attacks everybody, to realize that that officer who you may or may not have thought did the right thing, is a guy that you really like, or a woman with children that go to your school,” Rosenthal said.
If you go
What: Richmond’s 41st National Night Out
When: Tue., Aug. 5. The kick-off party is at 5 p.m. at the Point Richmond Triangle, 128 W. Richmond Ave.; the closing party is at 871 23rd St. The RYSE center is sponsoring an alternative event, Night Out for Safety and Liberation, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 3939 Bissell Ave.
Where: Visit the city’s website for details about additional NNO gatherings citywide.
According to Richmond Police Lt. Donald Patchin, the police and fire departments will have staff members at almost all of the neighborhood gatherings.
About 30 police personnel will travel to various local National Night Out events. There, they will answer questions, meet neighbors, play games and socialize with the community.
Patchin echoed Rosenthal’s sentiments, explaining how meeting local first-responders can help residents feel more comfortable and connected to their law enforcement agencies.
“People can see us as people too, because we are, you know, we’re not just law enforcement officers, we have families, we have pets, some of us do live in the community,” he said. “It’s a way to really kind of build those bridges, and I do look forward to that.”
Patchin said getting to know one’s neighbors can also increase community safety, as building a network of trustworthy faces can work together against crime.
“You guys can work together out there in your neighborhoods and then let us know ‘Hey, we need assistance with these problems’ and get together and collaborate, and then work with us toward community solutions,” Patchin said.
“”
“We’re not just law enforcement officers, we have families, we have pets, some of us do live in the community.”
— Richmond Police Lt. Donald Patchin
Rosenthal expects local firefighters to attend the opening event, too.
“I just think it’s really going to be nice, in such a divisive time, to have all these kinds of reminders that inside those vehicles are real people,” Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal said that everyone is welcome to linger and chat for as long as they please, but generally attendees end up back at their respective neighborhood parties for the majority of the evening.
23rd Street hosting National Night Out closing party
To conclude the night, Richmonders can gather at 871 23rd St., in front of Rigo Auto Sales, for the close-out celebration.
The party is being hosted by the 23rd Street Merchants Association and will feature Latin-style food, music and games, according to association president Oscar Garcia.
Garcia hopes that by holding the closing party along the 23rd Street corridor, which is home to a thriving Latin community, that many of his Spanish-speaking neighbors will be more comfortable attending.
“This [party] will be a good one for anyone who, you know, is thinking more of a Spanish- speaking crowd, but anyone and everyone will be welcome, and English will definitely be spoken as well,” Garcia told Richmondside.
Though the closing party officially takes place from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Garcia said that festivities and food will be available anytime after 5 p.m.
Thanks to a city grant, the 23rd Street Merchants Association will be providing free tamales, sandwiches and beverages to attendees.
All community members are encouraged to attend the opening and closing events, giving residents a chance to forge citywide connections.
“That’s one of the beauties of National Night Out, is that you get the ability to meet people from these different parts of the city … I can’t think of another event where that all can happen in one night,” Garcia said.
A NNO alternative sponsored by RYSE
For anyone looking for an alternative to National Night Out, RYSE is hosting its eighth Night Out for Safety and Liberation (Safetyls) on Aug. 5 for those who want to participate in a police-free community-building event.
From 4 p.m to 7 p.m. at the RYSE community center, 3939 Bissell Ave., RYSE will offer free food, spoken word and dance performances, acupuncture services, haircuts and school supplies for students.
Stephanie Medley, director of education and justice at RYSE, explained that the event was founded by the Ella Baker Center in Oakland to offer an alternative that didn’t focus on policing or neighborhood watch parties.
As many as 200 people have attended past RYSE events, organizers said.
“For us, it’s really a time where we’re reclaiming and celebrating what safety means for us, especially, you know, when a lot of fear-based approaches to public safety are gaining momentum,” Medley told Richmondside. “We just want to remain committed and rooted in the belief that real safety isn’t created through control or punishment, but lives in our relationships and our care for one another and our collective strength as a community.”
