By Nyame-Kye Kondo
Special to the AFRO
Mayor Brandon M. Scott joined Baltimore’s National Night Out at the Langston Hughes Community Center in Park Heights on a warm Aug. 5 evening. It was one of many stops made during an afternoon and evening full of fun in the community.
The scene was vibrant and full of life as a DJ encouraged people to move their feet and fellowship with each other and their local officials. Children bounced gleefully on inflatables, teenagers played basketball in the brightly colored gym, and families lined up for snowballs and funnel cake.
Members of the Baltimore Police Department mingled with neighbors across the city, offering a visible show of unity.
Held every second Tuesday in August since 1984, National Night Out was created to help strengthen relationships between the community and law enforcement through food, music, fun, and back-to-school giveaways.
In support of this mission, Mayor Scott visited nine locations throughout the city, accompanied by city officials and community leaders.
Scott spoke exclusively with AFRO News during his stop at Abbotson Elementary in Northeast Baltimore.
“I prefer to be with the people,” he said, when asked why the event was important to him.
The mayor said that “National Night Out has grown” over time into a special day where communities can celebrate and recognize “the relationships that have been built throughout the year. That’s what this is about: building relationships and building connections.”
Among the many residents to participate in National Night Out 2025 was 74-year-old Baltimore native Elaine Wells, who expressed deep appreciation for the initiative.
“This is a wonderful community program. It shows unity, and it’s so important that the mayor and the politicians come out — the police department, the fire department — to let the people know what services are available to them.”
That spirit of connectedness was evident in action through onsite mediation services offered by law enforcement.
Geraldine A. Finch, president of the Baltimore Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., spoke to why the members of her chapter participate in National Night Out each year.
“It’s important because we bring the police department and the community together in an informal environment,” she said. “They are able to help, communicate, talk and resolve some issues.”
Finch said that the Aug. 5 event that took place at the Delta Community Center in Park Heights offered an opportunity for her to deal with “a couple of things that were neighbor related.”
“The police were right there and able to assist,” Finch said.
A consistent theme that was evident throughout the different locations was the community’s commitment to showing the youth support through resources for their return to school this fall.
Community workers volunteered their services by serving food and giving away free school supplies, stacked and ready for young people to take ahead of the start of classes.
Standing behind stacks of children book bags near the entrance of Abbotson Elementary, community volunteer Melissa R. Fitzgerald expressed the importance of everyone coming together for a more peaceful environment– but more importantly for the youth.
“This is not just a work event for me,” she said. “I am passionate about community and all of us coming together to be a part of ‘the village.’ Our children an example of collaboration and unity that is going to benefit them as they grow.”
This article was updated on Aug. 11.