The Church of Scientology of Sacramento and local volunteers participated in the National Night Out celebration at Robla Community Park, distributing educational booklets to more than 300 residents and community groups. The event, held annually across the nation, aims to strengthen ties between neighbors and local law enforcement. Volunteers provided resources from three international secular campaigns: the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, Youth for Human Rights, and The Way to Happiness. These programs are designed to be non-religious and are offered free of charge to community leaders, educators, and law enforcement to promote drug prevention, human rights education, and moral awareness.
The volunteers engaged directly with attendees, including families, police officers, firefighters, and city officials. The response was overwhelmingly positive. A local park ranger expressed gratitude for the anti-drug materials, noting that most of his emergency calls stem from substance abuse. A Sacramento Police Officer also requested Youth for Human Rights materials for review. Representatives from the Mayor's office and City Councilmember's office met with volunteers and took sample materials to share with city leadership. Additionally, a Sacramento school district administrator showed strong interest in implementing the complimentary Drug-Free World Educator's Kit in local schools.
Christina DiGuilio, head of the Youth for Human Rights Sacramento Chapter, and Don Pearson, leading the United for Human Rights Sacramento Chapter, were pleased to participate. DiGuilio remarked, "National Night Out was a fantastic opportunity to bring Youth for Human Rights to the community! Human rights are foundational to interpersonal relationships at every level of society. From individual neighbors to neighborhoods, cities, states and beyond, respect is priceless. Self-respect, respect for each person and each person's rights are necessary to build caring and supportive relationships and networks. We were thrilled to be part of the national night out movement!"
These campaigns are inspired by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, who believed that human beings are inherently good but are hindered by social ills, ignorance, and spiritual degradation. He asserted that a civilization can only survive if it uplifts its individual members and actively combats destructive forces like drug abuse, illiteracy, and human rights violations. His philosophy emphasizes the fundamental value of helping others, stating in his essay "My Philosophy," "I like to help others and count it as my greatest pleasure in life to see a person free himself of the shadows that darken his days." He argued that true intelligence is measured by one's ability to help others and that a person's value to society is tied to their contribution to human survival.
Hubbard identified three critical battlegrounds for humanitarian efforts: the drug epidemic, illiteracy and poor education, and moral decay. He viewed drug abuse as a primary catalyst for moral and physical decline, and he developed learning methodologies to help people educate themselves out of poverty and criminality. He advocated for a return to practical, common-sense moral principles to restore calm and mutual trust in troubled neighborhoods. His overarching vision was "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights."
Mike Klagenberg, Local Church Public Affairs Director, said this vision inspires him and the dedicated volunteers to be part of solutions like National Night Out and these humanitarian campaigns. "It is very fulfilling and fills one with a sense of purpose and value to those around them. We can build better and more vibrant communities together."
The Foundation for a Drug-Free World, Youth for Human Rights International, and The Way to Happiness are international secular campaigns sponsored by the Church of Scientology. They use educational booklets, public service announcements, and community workshops to promote sobriety, human rights awareness, and common-sense moral values. For more information, visit Drug-Free World, Youth for Human Rights, and The Way to Happiness.
