Who doesn’t want to live in a safe community? In an effort to make the Fayetteville/Cumberland County area a safer place to work and live, Operation Ceasefire is reaching out to the public to educate and create relationships that will lead to that end.

Movie nights are one way they are reaching out. In partnership with Cumberland/Fayetteville Parks and Recreation, Operation Ceasefire presents an Outdoor Movie Series. The Outdoor Movie Series is designed to give youth and their families a fun and safe environment to enjoy their evening. The movies are shown each month at various recreation centers in the community through October. Show time is 7:30 p.m. and admission is free. Originally designed to be an outdoor event (so bring a blanket or chair), the movies will be shown inside in the case of inclement weather.

Popcorn and soft drinks are complimentary, and several local businesses have pitched in to provide free give aways, too.

Last year, the movie night event touched more than 6,200 people who attended the movies and through the course of the season more than 500 children signed “The Pledge,” in which they promised to do their part in reducing gun violence in schools. Operation Ceasefire coordinators are hopeful that attendance will grow this year and reach even more citizens in the community.

“Operation Ceasefire is an initiative at the local level that seeks to reduce gun and gang violence. We do that through a comprehensive strategy that includes prevention, intervention, suppression and outreach,” said Operation Ceasefi re spokesperson Charla Suggs. “Our movie nights are part of our outreach. We also incorporate some prevention strategies there as well. The heart of our movie night is to reach out to Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents and give them an opportunity to come out for some safe family fun with the men and women of law enforcement and have a positive interaction with the men and women who serve them every single day.”

Suggs also noted that part of building a strong community, fostering a sense of community is a benefi t of Operation Ceasefi re movie nights.

“Unfortunately, that is one of the things that Cumberland County also lacks a real sense of community and connectedness to the people that you live and work alongside every day,” said Suggs. “So we are trying to provide an opportunity to do that within a safe context and positive interactions. We want the men and women of law to be the heroes of our young people, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, that is not the case sometimes, because people see them in negative, stressful or emotional situations.”

Movies are scheduled for:

• Friday, May 27: Festival Park in Fayetteville as a kick-off to Glory Days

• Friday, June 17: The Church of The Apostles, 1419 H. Bullard Rd., Hope Mills

• Friday, August 12: Kingdom Impact Global Ministries, 2503 Murchison Rd.

• Friday, September 9: Hope Mills Parks & Recreation Ball Field #1 as part of the Back to School Celebration

• Friday, October 28: JP Riddle Stadium as part of Trunk or Treat & Movie (candy only).

Call 484-1989 to find out more.