Tampa Citizens Academy

Community Relations

Creating Relationships Through Dialogue

The Community Relations Unit at FBI Headquarters and FBI community outreach specialists in field offices across the country create and strengthen relationships locally and nationally with minority groups, religious and civic organizations, schools, non-profits, and other entities. 

These partnerships have led to a host of crime prevention programs, enabling families to stay safe from fraudsters and cyber predators, businesses to protect themselves from hackers and economic espionage, schools and workplaces to safeguard against violent rampages and illegal drugs, and all citizens to become alert to potential acts of terror and extremism. 

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Resources

Indigenous Communities Outreach 

The FBI’s Community Outreach Program engages Indigenous Communities as we work together to protect vulnerable people—including elders and children—from criminal activity. Through our community outreach specialists in the field, we empower American Indians/Alaska Natives to protect themselves and their tribes and to report unlawful incidents. We also work to educate tribal populations about significant FBI and Department of Justice Indian Country initiatives such those involving Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

In general, the FBI is responsible for investigating the most serious crimes in Indian Country, including murder, child sexual and physical abuse, violent assaults, drug offenses, public corruption, and financial crimes. The FBI has investigative responsibility for federal crimes committed on about 200 Indian reservations nationwide. We share our federal jurisdiction with the Office of Justice Services of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Resources:

Resources for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers 

Resources about Elder Crime 

Additional Resources 

Houston Community Outreach

The Outreach

Community outreach is about building partnerships locally and nationally that help prevent crime and protect our diverse nation. 

Learn more the FBI’s latest outreach initiatives, notable outreach activities and successes by Bureau partners and personnel, advice for staying safe from emerging threats and scams, career opportunities, and more in our quarterly digest.

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Programs

To build and strengthen relationships in our communities, the FBI hosts a range of programs through Headquarters and field offices across the country. 

Citizens Academies

Our Citizens Academy programs are engaging six-to-eight-week programs that give business, religious, civic, and community leaders an inside look at the FBI. Classes meet in the evenings at FBI field offices around the country. The mission of the FBI Citizens Academies is to foster a greater understanding of the role of federal law enforcement in the community through frank discussion and education. Candidates are nominated by FBI employees, former Citizens Academy graduates, and community leaders. Participants are selected by the special agent in charge of the local FBI field office. To find out more about an FBI Citizens Academy in your area, contact your local field office.

Community Awareness Presentations

The Community Awareness Presentation (CAP) is a shorter, more focused version of the FBI Citizens Academy program and is conducted in partnership with a specific community group, generally at an offsite location. The program is designed to build trust and strengthen relationships between the FBI and the communities we serve. Community groups are encouraged to identify topics that are of concern or relevant to their group or organization for the FBI to discuss. Classes are taught by FBI subject matter experts. Generally the participants are selected by members of their organizations or community and there is no restriction on audience size. To request a presentation, please contact your local FBI field office.

Multi-Cultural Engagement Council

The Multi-Cultural Engagement Council (MCEC) is composed of community ethnic, religious, and minority leaders who help the FBI better understand the cultures and committees they represent. The mission of the MCEC is to provide a trusting environment that allows council members to discuss issues and concerns within their communities and collaborate with the FBI to identify solutions. The MCEC helps build strong relationships between communities and the Bureau.

Director's Community Leadership Award

Since 1990, the Director’s Community Leadership Award has been the principal means for the FBI to publicly recognize achievements of individuals and organizations that make extraordinary contributions to education and the prevention of crime and violence in their communities. Each field office nominates an individual or organization for the award, and, once selected, the recipients are invited to a ceremony and reception at FBI Headquarters.

Youth Programs

The FBI has a number of programs geared towards children of elementary, middle, and high school ages.

Teen and Youth Academies

Our Teen Academy and Youth Academy programs allow high school and middle school students an opportunity to get a comprehensive look into today’s FBI. Generally, each course iteration is a minimum of eight hours but can be a week-long program with blocks of instruction and demonstrations at a local field office. Students are provided with several presentations on topics including terrorism, cyber crime, public corruption, polygraph exams, evidence response, SWAT, and the day-to-day operations of a typical FBI office. Students also learn from special agents, intelligence analysts, language specialists, and professional staff about investigative tactics that include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and assisting with cases. 

Adopt-A-School

The Adopt-A-School Program puts FBI special agents and staff members into local schools to mentor and tutor kids. In most cases, our volunteers create programs to help kids who are “at risk” or disadvantaged learn how to improve academically and become good citizens. They hope, above all, to show kids how to resist bad influences that could lead them to crime, drug use, gang participation, and violence. It goes without saying that our volunteers respect the privacy of the students and their families, and all information is kept confidential.

Junior Special Agents

The Junior Special Agent Program aims to provide elementary school students the information, skills, and discipline necessary to stay away from gangs, drugs, and crime. Students also take a course in civics and learn about the FBI and the ways in which law enforcement helps to serve and protect their communities. 

FBI Tampa Community Outreach

Connect with Us

Want to connect with the FBI? Reach out to our Headquarters program or to your local FBI office. 

You can contact the Community Relations Unit at FBI Headquarters at HQoutreach@fbi.gov.

To contact your local community outreach program, reach out to your local FBI field office.

You can also find us on social media.

Interested in attending an FBI outreach event or participating in one of our programs?

The following programs are currently accepting nominations or applications:

This list may not include all available opportunities. For a full list of events or programs in your area, visit your local FBI field office's website.