Three Community-Based Programs Operated by NOBLE

National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) comprises a group of law professionals, civic leaders, and supportive organizations dedicated to advancing equity in the justice system. The organization operates 56 chapters across six regions in the United States. Member chapters are also in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, and Africa.

NOBLE is committed to making a positive difference in communities by actively engaging in initiatives, such as food and clothing drives, reading programs for children, scholarship awards, and discussions with youth on safety topics. Three community-based programs operated by the organization include The Law & Your Community, The Talk, and It Starts at Home.

The Law & Your Community is a hands-on interactive training program designed for individuals aged 13 to 18 and was first held in 2014 in St. Louis, Missouri. Its precursor, The Law and You originated from a partnership between NOBLE and Allstate Insurance Company. This program is designed to educate young individuals on how to have safe interactions with law enforcement professionals and is comprised of three sections.

The citizenship module offers education on the functioning of the representative democracy and how citizens are involved in this system. It emphasizes the power citizens possess to influence the course of their government by actively participating in the electoral process. Additionally, it illustrates the reasons and processes behind lawmaking at the local, state, and national levels and highlights the significance of laws in preserving order in society.

The Law Literacy module teaches participants about crimes common among teens and young adults. A secondary objective of the session is to encourage youth to steer clear of intentionally or unintentionally getting involved in criminal activities by making wise decisions and modifying destructive behavior.

The Law Enforcement Engagement module instructs participants on how to respond appropriately during interactions with law enforcement and guides them on addressing police misconduct. This part of the course also defines the concept of community policing. Further, participants are provided with information on what to expect if they enter a career in law enforcement.

The Talk was launched by NOBLE in 2022 by the organization’s former president, Brenda Goss Andrews, and has since become the organization’s most sought-after youth program. Almost 400 students between the ages of 14 and 18 have participated since it was first held in Dallas, Texas. It is a youth outreach program to foster open dialogues between youth and law enforcement. Those enrolled in it participate in a youth-led panel discussion that focuses on contemporary issues such as gun violence and mental health. The program has been held in various additional locations, including Dallas, Texas, Detroit, Michigan, Shreveport, Louisiana, Tempe, Arizona, and Washington, DC.

It Starts at Home is a NOBLE initiative operated in collaboration with non-profit organization, Everytown. It aims to raise awareness of the dangers of keeping unsecured guns in the home. It also directs attention to how unsecured firearms have been implicated in mass shootings and contributed to the rising rates of adolescent suicide and child fatalities occurring in minority communities. Free gun locks are distributed at community events as part of the program.

Varrick Douglas

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