NNO Celebrates Community, Culture, and Connection

By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones

NEWBURGH – The heartbeat of the city pulsed with unity, joy, and music on Tuesday, August 5th as residents gathered on lower Broadway for Newburgh’s 36th National Night Out that brought together the community in a show of strength. The celebration span from Johnston to Liberty Street and brought out hundreds. National Night Out, observed nationally on the first Tuesday in August, is a community awareness event aimed to promote police and community partnerships and enhance the relationship between neighbors to build community. It is celebrated in over 16,000 communities all over the United States.

“National Night Out is a night where we’re supposed to come out, meet our neighbors… and enjoy our community… So, we just brought all of the community together… We’re trying to make sure that everybody gets out and meets each other, the elected officials, the people who work [here], the people who live here. It’s just a day we come together and meet each other,” said Councilman Omari Shakur.

Broadway was filled with community organizations that staffed tables. They shared resources about affordable housing, voting, medical insurance, Alzheimer’s awareness, and more. TEAM Newburgh, which stands for Together Everyone Achieves More, shared pamphlets about substance abuse and handed out items one could use to lock up their medications and edibles safely to prevent accidental ingestion by children. RAPP, (Release Aging People in Prison), a grassroots organization created and led by formerly incarcerated people and family members of people in prison shared their goals to end mass incarceration and build racial justice. Alton Lee, the Hudson Valley Leader of RAPP, discussed the organization’s efforts to change societal perceptions and laws regarding elderly prisoners.

“We’re trying to change laws to get elderly people out of prison and stay out of prison. We have two bills, in particular the Elder Parole Bill, which is for ages 55 and over and did more than 15 years to make them eligible for the parole board. Then we have the Fair and Timely [Act], which [inmates] will be judged by the parole board for who [they] are now as opposed to who [they] were,” said Alton Lee who also emphasized the astronomical cost of housing elderly prisoners, noting $240,000 annually per inmate.

Kendel Levy, owner of EZ Play Entertainment, enjoyed bringing back his handmade carnival games and prizes. He expressed gratitude for being invited back, citing positive community feedback.

“The motto of our company is reuniting the community one game at a time… I’m very big on doing stuff for the community and I like the idea of having kids being able to do something outside and more with their physical hands, rather than just a video game,” said Levy.

Organizations offered everything from free popcorn to bracelets and frisbees. Mt. Carmel Church of Christ gave away snow cones free of charge. Baptist Temple gave away complimentary chips and water. The Salvation Army distributed popsicles at no cost. The line was wrapped around the booth to receive on the house hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken shish kabobs cooked by firefighters.

“Everything that we do is free to the community. So, the city really wants the police and the community to come out and come back and make sure that they see [police] in a different light… I love that the community embraces everything,” said Maritza Wilson, Event Coordinator for National Night Out who works as a Bilingual Clerk for the City of Newburgh.

A boxing ring was set up in the middle of Broadway. There boxers from Hook Elite Boxing Club sparred and drew a huge crowd of onlookers. The program is for kids from age six to adulthood, includes physical training, and a life skills component.

“I serve [God] through helping these kids become better. People become good at boxing and may be world champions. Not just world champions in boxing, but in life,” said Leonard Lee, Founder of Hook Elite Boxing, who believes he can inspire kids to stay away from negative influences and engage in positive activities.

DJ Odyssey, who has been DJing professionally since age 12, kept the music flowing. He spun a mix of hip-hop, R&B, slides, and shuffles to the delight of the crowd.

“I’ve been here for four years now. It feels good [to be back]. I’m a Newburgh Native. I’m giving back. I feel like the city is also giving back to me,” said DJ Odyssey who even had Civil Rights Lawyer Michael Sussman, who is running for Orange County Executive, dancing to “Chicken Noodle Soup.”

As the sun set over the Hudson River, it was evident that National Night Out had achieved more than just an enjoyable night out. It created space for imagining a more connected Newburgh. Although Newburgh continues to face challenges, events like National Night Out offer a glimpse of what is possible when the community unites.

“National Night Out is always a beautiful night for Newburgh and for cities and towns around the country. It’s a time to celebrate police community relations, and it’s something that we look forward to every year,” said Mayor Torrance Harvey who was meeting and greeting the community.

Ms. Jones