DETROIT — A local outreach program of the FBI, the FBI Detroit Citizens Academy, aims to educate and address the public on different societal issues such as crime, terrorism, drugs and violence.

The FBI Citizens Academy is a national program with several branches around the country, including one based in Detroit.

The program is a six- to eight-week course that allows civic leaders, political leaders or business leaders to learn more about the FBI and its goals within the community. Entry into the program is through nomination by an individual in the FBI or someone who has previously completed the Citizens Academy.

Photo courtesy: Dr. Shawny DeBerry

Upon graduation from the FBI Detroit Citizens Academy, one can become a member of the FBI Detroit Citizens Alumni Association. There is an annual due of $50 or one payment of $1,000 to become a lifetime member of the association.

Both the FBI Detroit Citizens Academy and the FBI Detroit Citizens Academy Alumni Association began in 2003.

Dr. Shawny DeBerry is the president of the FBI Detroit Citizens Academy Alumni Association, which works with the outreach program. She is the first Black woman to be elected president of the association.

DeBerry is a political appointee of Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, serving as director of administration for the Department of Public Services. A long-time civil servant, DeBerry was nominated to take the Academy course and then joined the association.

DeBerry told The Arab American News the Alumni Association is an independent non-profit organization associated with the Citizens Academy, but not operated by the FBI’s outreach program. 

Dr. Shawny DeBerry

“We’re a nonprofit organization that’s separate, but we’re partners with the FBI; and so we’re just trying to promote awareness, trying to educate the public on certain phenomenons,” she said.

… there was an interest in trying to be more community driven, which is why they put a lot emphasis on that FBI Citizens Academy because it is about citizen leadership. — Dr. Shawny DeBerry

DeBerry explained that though the popular perception of the FBI involves “black suits with the ear phones”, the FBI’s work involves a lot more. An essential component of regional FBI offices is to do outreach in the community and work with local partners to enhance their operations.

She also said that from her experience in the Academy and as president of the Alumni Association, the programs have worked to combat some common stereotypes surrounding law enforcement.

“(The FBI through its outreach program has been) making efforts to become more diversified, culturally, if you will,” DeBerry said. “And I do understand that because you know there are a lot of minority communities that have had some challenges with law enforcement.

“Once again I can’t speak for the FBI, but I do know there was an interest in trying to be more community driven, which is why they put a lot of emphasis on that FBI Citizens Academy because it is about citizen leadership,” she added.

FBI Detroit Citizens Alumni Association members, Association board members and FBI staff. Photo courtesy: Dr. Shawny DeBerry

Several Arab Americans currently sit on the board of the Alumni Association. The FBI Detroit Field Office also appointed Mary Jordan Abouljoud to its community outreach team as a community outreach specialist in 2019.

After individuals go through the Citizens Academy, they continue learning about law enforcement issues through the Alumni Association. 

DeBerry shared that one of the biggest issues both the FBI and the Alumni Association are tackling currently is human trafficking.

To bring awareness to this phenomenon, the Alumni Association hosted a membership engagement event earlier this month that launched its focus on human trafficking.

This was hosted at the Detroit Zoo, with survivors of human trafficking in attendance. 

For more information regarding the FBI Detroit Citizens Academy or the FBI Detroit Citizens Alumni Association, visit FBI.gov/contact-us/field-offices/detroit/community-outreach or fbidcaaa.org/about/