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Philadelphia, 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:

• We recently awarded our annual Director's Community Leadership Award to James Binns, a prominent Philadelphia attorney. Mr Binns makes substantial contributions to a variety of charitable institutions and created and supports the Hero Cop Plaque program, the Hero Firefighter Plaque program, and the Hero Thrill Show. These programs commemorate the heroism of 278 Philadelphia police officers and 285 Philadelphia firefighters who have died in the line of duty by placing plaques at the sites where they gave their lives.
  
  

• On May 13, 2009, representatives from the Philadelphia Division met with approximately 30 students from the Nu-Juice Foundation, a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization that works with low income and disadvantaged youth to engage them in positive educational programs and activities that lead to successful careers. The students, some of whom are high school Air Force ROTC cadets, toured our office and received presentations on SWAT, bomb technicians, and Internet safety.

• In March 2009, we welcomed our latest Citizens' Academy, bringing together a cross section of 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.
  
  

• In 1995, the Philadelphia Division became the second major office to host a Citizens' Academy. Each year we select a variety of community, civic, faith-based, media, and religious leaders to participate in this eight-week program. Participants receive hands-on presentations on field investigations and on the FBI's mission, policies, programs, and procedures, along with other demonstrations. If you would like to nominate an individual for participation in next year's class, please contact Community Outreach Specialists Natosha R. Gale or Tanya L. Jeter at (215) 418-4381 or (215) 418-4382, respectively.
  
  

• The Philadelphia Division recently hosted its first Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee for area ethnic, religious, and cultural leaders. The purpose of the advisory committee is to open a dialogue with these leaders on key issues so that FBI Philadelphia leadership and FBI Headquarters community relations experts better understand local communities. Committee members meet quarterly to discuss topics of interest and to learn about our mission, protocol, and procedures.
  

• Hosting town hall meetings with various members of the community as needed to dialogue on key issues;

• Working with our area’s youth to share important life skills and hosting a Youth Academy Program for young people each year;

• Holding Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST) sessions for community groups to improve the flow of information so that local crime problems and issues can be better addressed together;

• Sending our special agents and outreach specialists into schools, businesses, and civic meetings 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;

• Serving on committees and boards for businesses, schools, community groups, and social and health services and launching drives to bring food, gifts, and toys to the less fortunate during the holidays and other times of the year;

• Encouraging students to become more aware of cyber safety through FBI Safe Online Surfing (SOS) contests;

• Partnering with the American Football Coaches Association and its National Child Identification Program to distribute Child ID kits at football games and other events.