Albuquerque, like each of the FBI’s local field offices, has a community outreach program that complements and strengthens our many efforts to protect you, your businesses, and your families in concrete ways through a range of activities and initiatives. The outreach programs are designed to build bridges and encourage dialogue among the diverse communities we serve.

Our recent activities include:

• On May 17, we participated in the Festival of Asian Cultures sponsored by Asian American Association of New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque. The festival showcased music, dance, food, and culture from Asian and Pacific countries, including Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Philippines, and Vietnam. We supported the event through an informational booth that included free Child Identification Kits, FBI job/career resources, and consumer protection materials.
• This spring, we held two Citizens' Academy programs, bringing together a cross section of 45 community leaders in both Las Cruces and Albuquerque to learn firsthand about our operations and programs, not only demystifying our work but creating new contacts and channels for working together and sharing information. See our 2010 Citizens’ Academy schedule.
  
  

  Citizens’ Academy student takes target practice

• On March 20, Director Robert S. Mueller presented a 2008 Director's Community Leadership Award to Dr. John Ratmeyer, Deputy Chief of Pediatrics at the Gallup Indian Medical Center. Dr. Ratmeyer has long been identified as an expert in the field of child abuse and neglect. His expertise is often sought by the McKinley County District Court, the Navajo Nation Family Court, and the U.S. District Courts. Dr. Ratmeyer was further recognized for his tireless efforts in training parents, community groups, and law enforcement officials regarding child abuse and neglect. His steadfast defense of New Mexico's children, particularly Native American children, is an inspiration to all who come in contact with him and the Gallup Indian Medical Center.

Among our other ongoing efforts:

• Meeting with minority groups and civic organizations to talk about what the FBI can do with them and for them and hosting town hall meetings as needed to dialogue on key issues;
• Providing Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST) for civic and community groups. The FBI CREST is a shorter, more focused version of the Citizens’ Academy where sessions are customized to meet the needs of each organization;
• Supporting the graduates of our Citizens’ Academies, who organize together in local alumni chapters to create crime awareness/prevention programs and other initiatives that benefit communities;
• Serving on committees and boards for businesses, schools, community groups, and social and health services and launching drives to bring food, gifts, and toys to the less fortunate during the holidays and other times of the year;
• Encouraging citizens to step forward to report crime and serve as witnesses in court;
  Hosting a yearly Teen Academy to provide an inside look at the FBI for students between the ages of 13-18;
• Partnering with the American Football Coaches Association and its National Child Identification Program to distribute Child ID kits at football games and other events; and
• Hosting Adopt-A-School programs that place FBI volunteers inside schools to support curriculum requirements. The program consists of school activities, classroom demonstrations, and special events.
  
  

  An Albuquerque Adopt-A-School event

Contact

To learn more about the community efforts above or to become involved in our outreach initiatives, please contact:

• Tammy Peter, Community Outreach Specialist
  E-mail: Tammy.Peter@ic.fbi.gov

Town halls, CREST academies, and community events (i.e. meetings, festivals, awareness fairs, etc.) are also coordinated through Tammy Peter and can be requested via her e-mail address listed above.

Tours & Speakers

To request a speaker for FBI topics related to your business, organization, or law enforcement agency, please contact:

• Teri VanHee, Training and Civil Liaison Specialist
  E-mail: Theresa.VanHee@ic.fbi.gov

In addition, please submit requests for office tours to Teri VanHee. Please note: tours are limited to youth groups and available resources. We request that you give us at least 21 days advance notice and that groups be kept to a 25-person maximum. Prior to the tour, participants 18 years of age or older must complete a comprehensive visitor form.

For More Information

Visit our national In Your Community website for more information about our overall outreach efforts and our work in other local FBI offices.

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