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POC: Jeanne White
     

Community Outreach

As the only non-investigative program in the Bureau, FBI Chicago's Community Outreach Program (COP) has been involved in several activities.  The mission of the FBI's COP is to provide a comprehensive program that deals with multiple interrelated societal problems, including crime, drugs, gangs, and violence, in support of the FBI's investigative mission.  Linking community service, prevention, and law enforcement is a major national trend as grass roots efforts have brought about federal government support for public safety initiatives.  FBI employees have joined in this national movement, volunteering in a wide variety of community-related efforts.  

Recognizing the interdependency of children, parents, other adults, community groups, businesses, schools, and social and health services, the FBI focuses its community outreach efforts in three areas:  the community, the schools, and the workplace.

Since April 2000, the following programs have been implemented within FBI Chicago's COP:

  ~  Adopt-A-School Program
  ~  Speaker's Bureau
  ~  Division Tours
  ~  Identity Theft Public Awareness Program
  ~  "Take our Children to Work Day"
  ~  Combined Federal Campaign
  ~  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
  ~  Operation Shining Star Event
  ~  International Visitor's Program
  ~  Cultural Diversity Program
  ~  Terrorism Prevention Program
  ~  American Football Coaches Association
Operation Shining Star Ornament

Operation Shining Star 2002
Operation Shining Star is a federal/state/local law enforcement interagency holiday event.  Last year, the following agencies participated in the event, which was held on Wednesday, December 11, 2002:  FBI; US Secret Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms; Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement;  Drug Enforcement Administration; Transportation Security Administration; Chicago Police Department; Morton Grove Police Department; Illinois State Police; Chicago Park District.

Adopt-A-School Program
Junior Special Agent Program
The Adopt-A-School Program initiative is part of the FBI's COP, which includes the Junior Special Agent Program (JSAP).  The mission of the JSAP is for the FBI to provide positive law enforcement role models who will encourage students to excel in school performance and attendance, build their self-esteem, and teach them how to abstain from crime, drugs, gangs, and violence.

FBI Chicago is in the process of developing a JSAP at Universal School, Bridgeview, Illinois.  Universal School is a suburban Arab-Muslim parochial school.  The JSAP for the 2003-2004 school year will begin in October.  

Kareem Irfan Director's Community Leadership Award 2002
The recipient of the Director's Community Leadership Award 2002 was Kareem M. Irfan, Esq., President, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.  Mr. Irfan was nominated by SAC Thomas J. Kneir.  SAC Kneir presented the award to Mr. Irfan in February 2003 during Averroes Academy's Fourth Annual Fund-Raising Dinner, which was held in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

Black Affairs Program (BAP) Committee
Fifth Annual Law Enforcement Gala
The Fifth Annual Law Enforcement Black-Tie Gala was held on Saturday, March 1, 2003, at Ashton Place, Willowbrook, Illinois.  This year's theme was "As we Rise After 9/11."

The gala included a five-course dinner, a live band, a disc jockey, a magician, and an awards program.  Net proceeds were equally divided between the Marie Shelter, the Tom Joyner 9/11 Relief Fund, and Crispus Attacks Elementary School.

One of the highlights of the evening was the recognition of the five African-American Chicago Fire Department's firefighters who volunteered, on their own time, for rescue efforts in New York City after the 9/11 tragedy.  One of the firefighters, Quenton Curtis, is shown below with ASAC John G. Raucci, FBI Chicago.  Also shown are members of the BAP Committee.

ASAC John Raucci and Firefighter Quenton Curtis

Black Affairs Program Committee

Unlock your Potential Career Conference
Several FBI Chicago employees attended an all-day conference sponsored by the Women in Government Mentoring Council and the Chicago Federal Executive Board on March 12, 2003 for Women's History Month.  The keynote speaker for the event was Kathleen L. McChesney, former FBI Chicago SAC.  Ms. McChesney currently is the Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection in Washington, DC.

Citizens' Academy
FBI Chicago hosted its first Citizens' Academy in June 2003.  The overall purpose of the academy was to establish and foster relationships and understanding between FBI Chicago and its community.  The academy gave business, civic, religious, and community leaders, as well as media executives, the opportunity to find out how the FBI "does business."  On Friday, June 27, 2003, after having the opportunity to shoot at our FBI Training Facility and a picnic luncheon, 27 participants graduated.

2003 Citizens' Academy

Career Days/Career Fairs
Community Outreach Specialist Birdella Braden and FBI Agents are available to attend school career days/career fairs in the Chicago metropolitan area.   To request a speaker on a variety of subjects to students at the elementary or high school level or to speak at a college or professional school, please send a request on official letterhead to FBI Chicago's COS, Birdella C. Braden at FBI Chicago, attention Community Outreach Program.  

Division Tours
Due to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, office tours for elementary and high school students, as well as youth groups, have been discontinued.  There are no exceptions!

For More Information
FBI Chicago's Community Outreach Coordinator, Birdella C. Braden, can be contacted at (312) 786-2689 (office), (312) 786-2525 (fax), or in writing at FBI Chicago, attention Community Outreach Program.  Additional information about this program also is available at the FBI's Community Outreach Program site.


FBI Chicago
219 S. Dearborn, Suite 905, Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 431-1333