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National Night Out Spirit Shines Year-Round Through Partnership Between Local Youth, Community Renewal and SWEPCO  

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SHREVEPORT, La. – National Night Out celebrates what is possible when neighbors, community organizations and local partners come together to build safer, stronger communities.

 

At Community Renewal’s MLK Friendship House, that spirit extends far beyond a single evening each year.

Through a unique partnership with SWEPCO, children and teens participating in the Friendship House after-school program are helping identify non-working streetlights throughout their neighborhood, documenting pole numbers and reporting locations so repairs can be completed. The student-led initiative has already helped identify nearly 100 streetlights in need of repair while giving young people a firsthand opportunity to make a visible difference in the community they call home.

Led by Community Renewal’s Patrick Drew, the project combines youth leadership, civic engagement and neighborhood pride with a practical goal: helping keep streets, sidewalks and gathering places well-lit for residents.

 

“This project helps young people see they can make a difference in their own community,” Drew said. “When they help get a light turned back on, they see firsthand the impact they can have.”

 

Drew says the effort has become a lesson in the power of relationships, with students actively helping neighbors identify lights that need repair and seeing the results of their work reflected across the community.

 

“The kids understand they can be part of the solution,” Drew said. “They know they can help turn a light back on for a neighbor and help make the community better.”

 

The initiative reflects the same community-centered values celebrated during National Night Out: neighbors looking out for one another, young people taking ownership of their communities and partnerships that produce meaningful results.

“When these students identify a streetlight that isn’t working, they’re doing more than reporting an outage,” said Valerie Dotson, SWEPCO Key Account Manager. “They’re helping make their neighborhoods safer and demonstrating that young people can be leaders in their communities today. We’re proud to partner with Community Renewal and the MLK Friendship House to help bring light where it’s needed most.”

 

Community Renewal leaders say the project exemplifies how young people can drive positive change when given opportunities to serve.

 

“These students aren’t waiting for someone else to solve problems,” said Kawona Abmas, SWEPCO Energy Efficiency & Consumer Program Coordinator. “They’re identifying needs, working alongside community partners and seeing firsthand how their actions can create positive change. The partnership with SWEPCO helps turn their efforts into real results that families can see every night when those lights come back on.”

 

Interview Opportunities

  • Patrick Drew, MLK Friendship House
  • Michael Corbin, SWEPCO External Affairs Manager
  • Kawona Abmas, SWEPCO Energy Efficiency & Consumer Program Coordinator Principal
  • Valerie Dotson, SWEPCO Key Account Manager
  • Participating students and families

Video, Photos and B-Roll Available

 

National Night Out Events Across SWEPCO’s Service Territory

In addition, customers can also interact with SWEPCO employees who will also be participating in National Night Out celebrations throughout Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, including:

 

Arkansas

  • Fayetteville – Gulley Park

 

Louisiana

  • Blanchard – North Park Estates
  • Bossier City – Shady Grove Recreation Center*
  • Bossier City – Plantation Trace Garden Homes
  • Bossier City – Greenacres Subdivision
  • Bossier City – Barksdale Annex
  • Greenwood – Greenwood Town Park
  • Haughton – Dogwood Clubhouse
  • Natchitoches – Ross Williams Park
  • Shreveport – North Highlands Elementary*
  • Shreveport – Sycamore Avenue/Pierre Avenue
  • Shreveport – Morningstar Baptist Church
  • Shreveport – 3301 Saint Mathias Drive
  • Shreveport – Community visits with city leadership

 

Texas

  • Henderson – Fair Park
  • Kilgore – Kilgore City Park
  • Linden – Cass County Justice Center
  • Nash – Nash Elementary School*

*SWEPCO-sponsored treat vendors will be on-site. Event locations subject to change.

 

Learn More

To learn more about Community Renewal and the Friendship House mission, visit Community Renewal International.

 

 

About Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO)
Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana, provides safe, value-based and reliable electricity to more than 500,000 customers across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Through ongoing investments in grid reliability and energy efficiency programs, SWEPCO helps customers manage energy use and control costs. SWEPCO is an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company. Learn more at SWEPCO.com and explore energy-saving tips, tools, and rebates at SWEPCOsolutions.com. Connect with us by following Facebook.com/SWEPCO, Twitter.com/SWEPCOnews, Instagram.com/swepco, Youtube.com/SWEPCOtv and LinkedIn.com/company/swepco.

 

 

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