Red Hook Celebrates National Night Out!

Yesterday the Red Hook community came together to celebrate our 18^th annual National Night Out Against Crime. This long-standing event is in partnership with the Red Hook Community Justice Center, the NYPD 76^th Precinct and PSA 1 Housing Police, Kings County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Office of Court Administration, and the New York Juvenile Justice Corps. This event provides an opportunity for residents, law enforcement and local organizations to come together, break down barriers, and take a stand against violence in our communities.

Hundreds of neighbors gathered in Red Hook’s Coffey Park for the festivities, food, positive messages, and a community resource fair with over 40 local organizations. Some highlights from the day included an anti-violence poetry slam by our local young poets, an exhibit of art work by young teens from the Justice Center’s art program, a Cops and Kids baseball game, and a teen dating violence PSA from the Justice Center’s Youth Echo program. And of course, there were plenty of fun activities including, pony rides, face painting, cotton candy, Youth Olympics, and an impromptu electric slide dance-off!

Local dignitaries and elected officials also came out and called for the community to come together and work with law enforcement to combat violence. Speakers included Brooklyn District Attorney, Charles Hynes, Senator Velmanette Montgomery, 76^th Precinct Police Captain Jeffrey Schiff, City Council Members Sara Gonzalez and Brad Lander, Housing Police Captain Carlos Valdez, Felix Palacios of Council Speaker Quinn’s Office, Andrew Olsen of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, and our own, Honorable Judge Calabrese.

Collaboration and unity like we saw yesterday in Coffey Park has been critical to making the 76^th precinct among Brooklyn’s safest and will continue to strengthen our community in years to come.

The pictures below were taken by local teen participants in the Justice Center's JustArts Photography Program:

Cops and Kids Baseball Game

A New York Juvenile Justice Corps member shares his poem during the Anti-Violence Poetry Slam

Residents and Volunteers Join in for an Impromptu Electric Slide Dance Off!

The Red Hook Baseball League thank Kings County District Attorney Charles Hynes and City Council Member Sara Gonzalez for their continued support of the league and the neighborhood.

Pony Rides are always a hit!

Residents Celebrating a beautiful evening in Red Hook.

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