It was educational, entertaining, and enlightening.

It was hot. The heat index was one hundred at the first stop.

It was long. Three hours plus and as in forty five miles.

The goal was to visit a National Night Out event in each of the seven council districts.

Fatigue, darkness, and the late hour cut the effort short after five stops.

A caravan of cars lead by Shreveport Police chief Ben Raymond started in Allendale Friendship House and ended in Windrush Park in Provenance.

Interim stops were at the Chris Hayes Community Center in Mooretown, a Pines Road neighborhood on Frondosa Drive, and Brushy Bayou subdivision on Linwood Avenue.

Each event had its own character, reflective of its location and its residents.

The Allendale block party (District A) was the kickoff–and comments were made at Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, SPD Chief Raymond, Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator and U.S. Attorney David Jossph. Time did not allow to taste Sharpel Welch’s word famous brisket.

The Chris Hayes Community Center (District F) was busy with flag football, tackle football and a pickup basketball game. The basketball shooting skills of Perkins and Raymond were a horror to watch.

The West Peak Neighborhood Association (District G) party provided a pit stop for hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage, baked beans and grilled neckbones. SPD Lt. Marcus Mitchell was trouncing two of the hosts in dominos when it was time to leave.

The next stop at Brushy Bayou (District E) was momentarily delayed by a false turn by Chief Raymond–a moment he would like to forget. The active neighborhood party featured line dancing lead by an assistant U.S attorney.

Although it was dark at Provenance (District D) a good crowd was still on hand. Councilman Grayson Boucher arrived after attending four other block parties.

Unfortunately time did not allow for visits at events in District C and District B.

Perkins and Raymond were the celebrities at each event and the entire touring group was welcomed by people they did not know. But that’s what the events are for–building and rebuilding communities the old fashion way.