Get to know your neighbors, first responders on National Night Out

TONIGHT COMMUNITIES AROUND AMERICA and in the Mon Valley will observe National Night Out.

In McKeesport, National Night Out will be celebrated with a block party to bring together police and the community from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the McKeesport Alliance Church, 938 Summit St. A barbecue, games and entertainment will be included. In addition to food and safety demonstrations, kids can enjoy a bounce house, dunk tank, face painting and a Pop Up and Play hosted by the McKeesport SHIP.

The Mon Valley National Night Out will be held tonight at the John DiVirgilio Sports Complex. From 6 to 9 p.m., National Night Out will focus on bringing children together with local first responders. The event will feature raffle baskets, kids’ prizes and a 50-50 drawing.

Fireworks sponsored by Vinoski Winery will be among the event’s highlights.

Port Vue will host its 2024 National Night Out with a cookout at the Port Vue recreation area large pavilion from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

Monessen will host its own Night Out from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 13 at Monessen High School.

We encourage everyone to get into the spirit of these important events. National Night Out goes beyond front porch vigils and symbolic efforts to send a message of neighborhood camaraderie.

Communities across the country host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and other events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and more. Police and other first responders often demonstrate some of the remarkable work they do. It’s a chance for families and police to get to know one another and alleviate mistrust. Recent history has made all too clear how important that is. Just as important is the need to reestablish community spirit.

A big part of National Night Out is bringing neighbors together in a community setting. It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of doing this, and we encourage area residents to emphasize this in their own neighborhoods.

After all, it’s hard to identify suspicious activity in your neighborhood if you spend all your time inside with the door closed, or if you don’t know who does or doesn’t live in nearby homes. These trends also have a negative effect on public discourse. Too many people live in bubbles consisting entirely of like-minded people, especially on social media.

Our neighborhoods may not be as diverse as we’d like them to be, but it’s still more likely to encounter varied outlooks by focusing on making connections to the community.

We urge everyone to take the message of National Night Out to heart. Go outside, talk to your neighbors and get to know them. It shouldn’t require a special occasion to work toward building a stronger community.