Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Brooklyn Center neighborhoods have been hosting annual neighborhood celebrations for 40 years!

Completing the online registration form will ensure that your neighborhood party will be recognized. We will make our best effort to visit all Brooklyn Center parties. By registering your party, you have the chance for your party to be visited by officials from Hennepin County, City officials, law enforcement and/or fire personnel.

This event builds stronger neighborhood spirit, police-community partnerships and lowers crime.

Night to Unite is a statewide event that builds and fosters community bonds between citizens, businesses, and public safety organizations. This annual celebration occurs on the first Tuesday in August and gathers neighborhoods and public safety personnel together for an evening to promote safe communities.

Night to Unite goals are to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness.
• Generate support and participation in crime prevention and community policing programs.  Camera registration – tamper resistance screws – mobile pole cameras initiative . These and our ongoing series of crime prevention tips and programs can be highlighted.
• Strengthen neighborhood spirits and public safety-community partnerships.
• Let criminals know that you are committed to keeping your neighborhood safe.

Neighborhoods across the state display outdoor lights and front porch vigils and celebrate with a variety of events and activities, including block parties and cookouts, with visits from sheriff’s offices, police and fire departments, and elected officials.

Night to Unite has proven to be an effective, inexpensive, and enjoyable opportunity to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in pursuit of safer communities. Community benefits often extend beyond this single evening event as neighbors get to know each other and the public safety agencies that serve them.  The MCPA created the logo that is free of charge to be used on any item or department.

Night to Unite is synonymous with National Night Out (NNO); both events are held on the same evening.

Block parties

Get-togethers can be as simple as potluck dinners, ice-cream socials or ordering carryout from a local restaurant. Night to Unite is a great opportunity for community members to catch up with one another, welcome new neighbors and update their neighborhood directories.

Hosting a party

• Individual neighborhoods host their own block parties.
• Invite your neighbors at least one week before the event – 10 houses to 200 houses, it’s up to you.
• Have a picnic, ice cream social, or just meet to talk – every party is different, do what works for you.
• Register your party (below).
• Deliver flyers to your neighbors.

Party planning

Night to Unite party planning tips

• When sign-up begins (typically end of June), register your gathering.
• Distribute “Save the Date” cards.[PDF]
• Get some neighbors to help plan the event.
• Use a planning checklist [PDF] to help organize the event.
• Invite your neighbors using this invitation flyer [PDF] or create one of your own.

Party planning materials

You may use these Night to Unite fill-in-the-blank materials below or create your own.