Andre Harriman, left, Saul Williams, center, and Shelber Burker share stories while grilling hot dogs during National Night Out at Washington Hills Family & Youth Development Center in Harrison on Tuesday.Chattanooga firefighters stood at the Washington Hills Youth and Family Development parking lot entrance Tuesday night inviting people to tour their firetruck. Brenda Hammond sat at a table near the entrance collecting resident information and distributing name tags. And Chattanooga Zoo community engagement director James L. Brantley showed off small zoo animals as residents walked through the center's hallway.
"We understand we have to build bridges," said Mayor Andy Berke, addressing the crowd Tuesday. "We're going to work harder than ever to be one with the community."
It was the city's annual National Night Out celebration and Washington Hills was among dozens of neighborhood associations across the city participating. The night is an acclamation of a community's power to stand against crime.
Residents organize to look out for each other to reduce crime in their community along with law enforcement.
St. Elmo residents held a parade. East Chattanooga Improvement Inc. and the Southside Chattanooga neighborhood groups hosted membership drives and the North Brainerd Community Council provided door prizes and entertainment for residents.
"Let everybody know that we are concerned about our community," said Calvin Jones, president of the Washington Hills Neighborhood Association. "And we want to work together as a team."
City Councilman Russell Gilbert commended the five neighborhood associations for banning together for the event kickoff. Power-N-Motion, pint-sized girls in red lipstick and leotards with black and silver pompoms, shuffled to the floor providing dancing entertainment for the event.
Chattanooga neighborhoods are not alone in their community-based stands against crime.
More than 37.8 million people from all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities and military bases observed National Night Out on the first Tuesday in August or the first Tuesday in October. The first event was held on Aug. 7, 1984, according to the National Night Out website, natw.org.
Washington Hills neighborhood leaders manned bounce houses and distributed popcorn until city officials addressed the crowd about keeping the community safe.
"We need you," said Berke. "Every member of the community helping us out."
Deputy Police Chief David Roddy told the audience that while National Night Out was only a once-a-year event, police want to develop a permanent partnership for keeping the city safe.
"Look for us to continue what we're doing tonight," he said "Even when the balloons are gone."
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 757-6431.