Marquise Weatherspoon (from left) of Evanston, Ladonnia Temple of Skokie (a 1987 Evanston Township High School graduate) and Gina Bradley of Evanston ( a 1976 ETHS graduate) perform with singers of Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church of Evanston at National Night Out in Evanston at the corner of Dodge Avenue and Church Street on Aug. 2.

National Night Out, a program recognized on the first Tuesday of August, but also during the first week of the month depending on communities, took place on Aug. 2 in Evanston.

National Night Out (NNO) is an annual campaign to promote partnerships to fortify neighborhoods as safer and better places to live.

Participation includes thousands of communities from all 50 states, United States territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.

“It brings people closer together,” said Gina Bradley of Evanston, a 1976 Evanston Township High School (ETHS) graduate.

Residents were encouraged by the City of Evanston to turn on their front porch lights that evening as a display of unity.

Evanston 5th Ward Ald. Delores Holmes (left) and Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl honor victims of violence at a candlelight vigil at National Night Out.

“It’s a pleasant night to get to visit with the public and to listen to citizens’ concerns,” Evanston Chief of Police Richard Eddington said.

Eddington stopped by the Evanston Public Library (1703 Orrington St.) where tables were set up in front of the main library entrance on Church Street. STEAM activities were featured with a family-friendly focus.

“I’m very determined to include the arts,” said Jill Skwerski, community engagement librarian at the Evanston Public Library.

Zailen Siner, 4, of Evanston is supervised with a candle at a candlelight vigil.

STEAM is an educational missive incorporating science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. STEM incorporates four missives (minus the arts) with some educators and officials now reinforcing the five principles of STEAM.

“Literature is art and one of the missions (of the library) is to connect community through reading and literature,” Skwerski said.

Marquise Weatherspoon (left) of Evanston helps to light candles during a candlelight vigil.

While Skwerski offered pens, information or other giveaways, people came up to Eddington and shared ideas of how to strengthen Evanston as a community.

“We need people who want to get along with each other,” said Bruce Segal of Evanston, who brought his comments to Eddington’s ear on a balmy evening before twilight.

“They’re nice people who live here,” Segal said.

“People don’t judge people here in the Midwest.”

Eddington said Evanston, a diverse town, he agreed, has challenges like many cities.

“One of the issues is panhandling in downtown,” Eddington said, of a current concern.

Evanston Chief of Police Richard Eddington (from left), Bruce Segal of Evanston and Jill Skwerski, community engagement librarian at the Evanston Public Library, are in front of the library on Church Street.

There were several locations the City of Evanston designated to host National Night Out activities including parks and a block-party barbecue on the 1500 block of Washington Street.

Eddington and other officials appeared at the flagship NNO location, the Neighborhood Meet and Greet, at the corner of Dodge Avenue and Church Street in a parking lot across from ETHS.

“It’s a great bringing together of neighborhoods,” said Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz.

“The timing is right, the message is right, this is so important.

“In this community,” Bobkiewicz added, “we value the rich and the poor.

Jasmine Abron (from left) of Evanston, youth services assistant at the Evanston Public Library, assists Luke Bennett, 10, an Evanston fifth-grader, Dylan Ribeiro, 8, an Evanston third-grader and Dylan’s sibling Gavin Ribeiro, 4, in front of the library.

“Everyone is part of this community.”

At the Church/Dodge location, a candlelight vigil topped the evening to honor those lost to crime. A list of names was distributed to attendees.

“We have great young people in our community but we have too many guns,” Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said to the audience.

Evanston Fifth Ward Alderman Alderman Delores Holmes and Tisdahl are both retiring from elected office.

“National Night Out will still be important to me,” Tisdahl said.

“I still will be in the community.”

Holmes showed slight emotion when asked how she felt about retiring from seeking office as 5th Ward alderman.

Jumping in the center of the rope is Yasmine Simms, 11, of Evanston at the Neighborhood Meet and Greet.

“I’m good, I’m good,” Holmes said softly.

Ladonnia Temple of Skokie, a 1987 ETHS graduate, performed with singers of Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church of Evanston (1711 Simpson St.) before the Church/Dodge candlelight vigil.

“I want the community to go back to what it was, kids playing outside, enjoying summer,” Temple said.

“I wish the community could go back to being safe.”

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— A beautiful National Night Out in Evanston —