Community Outreach

Community Outreach Program
Cleveland Division, FBI
Linda M. Schmidt, Community Outreach Specialist
Telephone: (216) 522-1400
Facsimile: (216) 622-6717
Email address: cos.cleveland@fbi.gov
  
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Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working Group Major projects offered by the Cleveland Division COP include the opportunity for community organizations to work with others in developing hate crime prevention initiatives through the Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working Group (HCWG).  In 1998 the Attorney General mandated that there be one HCWG in each U. S. Attorney’s District in partnership with the local FBI Division.  Cleveland was one of the first starting up in March 1998.  And, it remains the most active.   There are three committees; Law Enforcement; Legislation and Community Outreach/Education.   Cleveland COP chairs the Community Outreach/Education committee.

To date this subcommittee: created hate crime brochures available through this web page.  The brochures can be used as models to develop your own resource list for your community.  One brochure is for students and teachers, the other is for the workplace. Students and Teachers Brochure (HTML) Workplace Brochure (HTML) created posters that bring awareness to hate.   sponsors a three-day hate crimes conference each Spring for anyone interested in learning more about hate crimes and prevention.   Each day covers a different topic.  Day one covers the multi-cultural experience; day two covers hate crimes/bias incidents and day three covers multi-cultural conflict resolution.  If interested please fax your name, address and zip code, organization name and telephone number to Linda Schmidt at 216.622.6898 or email to cos.cleveland@fbi.gov

Citizens' Academy COP offers a nine-week Citizens’ FBI Academy in Cleveland Division territory once a year.  The mission of the Citizens’ Academy is to provide education and awareness of Bureau operations and jurisdiction, and to build relationships and partnerships in outreach and crime prevention efforts.  The academy accepts approximately thirty people making this a networking opportunity for its attendees.  Participants must commit to attending at least seven of the nine sessions and must agree to a limited background investigation.  This is necessary in order for attendees to be able to participate fully in the academy.  Right is a picture of our 2003 program graduates and FBI representatives.
The Junior Special Agent Program is offered during the full school year and during the summer.  The goal of this program is to teach children crime prevention.  It is similar to the Citizens’ FBI Academy in that students have an opportunity to meet the professionals who make up the Cleveland Division of the FBI.  Students learn about the history of the FBI, the types of crimes the Bureau handles, and the jurisdictional territory that the Cleveland Division serves.  Students have the opportunity to ask questions of FBI personnel and to consider the FBI as a potential career choice in the future.   Lessons covered include drugs, gangs, anger management and respect for others as well as other crime prevention topics.   They discuss hate/bias and how to prevent them from happening.  Students also learn about safety on the Internet and how to help a friend who has been a victim of crime.
	Cleveland COP has adopted Waterloo Middle School’s Fifth Grade classes.  These students go through training as Junior Special Agents for the full school year.   In May of each year those students completing their assignments are awarded their FBI credentials at a graduation celebration. During the 2003-2004 school year, the Junior Special Agent program will be offered at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Cleveland and at a school in the East Cleveland School System.
Director's Community Leadership Award The Director's Community Leadership Award is given out in late Fall to one person or group in each division.  Pictured are the December 2002 winners.  They are active members of the Community Outreach/Education committee of the Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working Group.  During 2002 they assisted in planning the three-day conference, provided presentations and participated in a live on-line FBI Chat on the first anniversary of 9/11.  These women continue to share their talents with the working group in an effort to educate the public in the prevention of hate crimes.
Community Outreach Specialist  Cleveland Community Outreach Specialist is a FBI certified police instructor and as such conducts training on street gangs, graffiti interpretation, cultural diversity, the effective response to the scene of a hate crime, hostile school environments and peer sexual harassment. COP also offers speakers on a wide-range of FBI related topics.   For those interested in requesting a speaker please send or fax a letter on your organization's letterhead with name of contact person, their phone number, topic interested in, number of attendees, possible dates and location.  Please send your request at least two months in advance to the attention of COS Linda Schmidt.
If you have any questions or comments about the Cleveland Division's Community Outreach Program, please contact Linda Schmidt at (216) 622-6615 or e-mail at cos.cleveland@fbi.gov.

Last Updated: 09/30/03 01:08 PM