Westbury residents banded together for a more peaceful neighborhood last week, during the community’s 22nd annual National Night Out.
The event began with a parade down Prospect Avenue, followed by festivities at Bunky Reid Park where attendees enjoyed music and games. Numerous community organizations and local business offered educational resources, healthcare and crime prevention information, and refreshments.
“It was exceptional. We had a huge turnout of all representations of the community,” said Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust who helped lead the event. “There was well over 1,500 people there.”
Loren Brereton and her other sisters from the Pi Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority were at the event, handing out healthy snacks and doing blood pressure screenings. Brereton said that the event’s theme: “Parents Help Children Grow” was very important.
“Events like this allow the community to become aware of things going on and what kids are being exposed to, and when your child needs you the most. Parents need to be with their children and take their kids to events like this,” said Brereton.
National Night Out events took place across the country, and is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in local anti-crime initiatives; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send the message that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Taylor-Walthrust says going forward, she hopes that Westbury will continue to join together to make peace a priority.
“I hope that there will be less crime in the community and more unification amongst all the different ethnic groups and that the community will work together with the police department and different institutions and organizations,” Taylor-Walthrust said. “It’s a collaborative effort to bring about change.”
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