The Camden Unity in the Community committee (UIC) will host its first National Night Out event at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Carnes Park on Carnes Park Road in Camden.

Camden’s UIC is a diverse committee made up of community members and civic leaders, including Mayor Chris Claybaker, who are working to heal racial division and foster unity among its residents. The Institute on Race and Ethnicity at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been working with UIC since 2011 to help them realize their goal.

The National Night Out event is an free, family-friendly city celebration featuring live music, food, games, and swimming for children. The event will also include greetings from local leaders and members of the UIC Committee, exhibitions from the Camden fire and police departments, and voter and neighborhood watch registrations.

According to Dr. John Miller, member of the Chancellor’s Committee on Race and Ethnicity and associate professor in the UALR School of Social Work, volunteers are expected to participate from the Camden Mayor’s Office, Camden Area Chamber of Commerce, Camden Police Department, Camden Fire Department, Lockheed Martin, several churches, and city residents.

The Institute is a sponsor of the event along with a number of area businesses and organizations.

“In addition to sponsorship from the Institute, there has been generous financial and in-kind support from the Camden community, including their two primary local grocery stores, Lockheed Martin, and several other community non-profit organizations,” said Miller.

For more information about the event, contact Miller at jwmillerjr@ualr.eduor Dr. Barclay Key at btkey@ualr.edu.