Community engagement in Oakland Park was boosted earlier this month when Oakland Park Traditional Alternative Elementary School and the local chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity teamed up for National Night Out, an event to strengthen bonds between police and neighborhoods. The Eta Nu Nu chapter of Omega Psi Phi, which serves the Linden community, used a $900 grant from the City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods to foster unity during this fun-filled night on August 6th, reported by Columbus City Schools.
Principal Mark Caudill, who has been active post-pandemic in promoting the school, saw the event as an opportunity to showcase Oakland Park's strong family engagement. "We have great family engagement here at Oakland Park, and this was an opportunity to show that to the community," Caudill told Columbus City Schools. In addition to current students, new students and families interested in the school were among the 50 families that attended.
With activities like a bounce house and a DJ, the event offered more than just a meet-and-greet with local law enforcement. Children enjoyed the school's playground, while educational materials and school supplies were distributed by vendors like the National Kidney Foundation, One Linden, and Chamberlain University. The League of Women Voters was also present to engage with visitors.
Robert "Bill" Varney, community liaison for Columbus Police Department 2 Precinct, highlighted the mutual benefits of community-police interaction. Having kids, too, and being part of the community as a third in his three-stop tour in North Linden on National Night Out, Varney emphasized to several community members the significance of seeing officers beyond their enforcement role. "It takes a village, and events like this show the public that we are part of [that] village," Varney explained, according to Columbus City Schools.
The successful collaboration between the school and fraternity entertained and served a deeper purpose of building a cohesive community fabric. Caudill expressed his desire to make this an annual event, hoping to grow it "bigger and better" in the coming years. Well-attended and well-received, this event sets a hopeful tone for the ongoing efforts to create a safe and united community in Oakland Park.
