Community Leaders and Safety Experts Unite for 2026 Crime Stoppers Prep Fair in Carbondale

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Date/Time
Date(s) - 08/26/2026
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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CARBONDALE, Ill. — Community members are invited to prepare, connect, and take action at the 2026 Crime
Stoppers Prep Fair, to be held Saturday, September 26, from 1 to 4p.m. at the Carbondale Civic Center.
Presented under the theme, “ARE YOU READY!!! Be Prepared, Don’t Be Scared,” the prep fair brings together
public-safety agencies, health organizations, emergency-preparedness professionals, and local advocates for an
afternoon of practical education, live training, and life-saving resources.
The event also supports the local Crime Stoppers reward fund. Sponsorships and community support generated
through the fair help fund cash rewards for anonymous tips that assist law enforcement in solving crimes and
making arrests throughout the region.
“A safe community is not built by chance,” organizers said. “It is built through the deliberate efforts of neighbors
looking out for one another and a shared commitment to being prepared for any challenge.”
A Day of Learning and Action
The fair will be the program’s most ambitious event yet, featuring a panel of regional safety and preparedness
experts moderated by communications-systems specialist Navreet Kang.
Panel participants include representatives from:
● Central United States Earthquake Consortium
● Jackson County Emergency Management Agency
● The Salvation Army
● Deaconess Hospital
● Southern Illinois Healthcare
● AES Solar
Following the panel, attendees can choose from specialized breakout sessions led by experienced professionals.
Topics include:
● Human Trafficking Awareness, led by SIU Law Professor Shelly Page
● Creative Crisis Stress Management and Resilience, led by Dr. Clover Johnson
● Addressing Your Stressors instructed by Partnership4Resilience professional Amber Heern
● Earthquake Preparedness, led by seismic expert Brian Blake
● Public Safety Training, including active-shooter response, gun safety, Stop the Bleed training, and
emergency communications
Resources That Can Save Lives
The exhibition hall will feature organizations offering direct access to local safety resources, information,
demonstrations, and on-site registrations. Featured opportunities include:
● Carbondale CodeRED: Register for local emergency alerts on-site.
● Hidden in Plain Sight: Explore a simulated room highlighting everyday items that may be used as drug
paraphernalia.
● Violence and Harm Reduction: Receive Narcan training from the SIU School of Medicine
● Domestic-violence prevention resources from Carbondale United.
● Free Gun Locks: Available through Moms Demand Action.
● Additional Community Resources: Financial-safety guidance, end-of-life planning information, and more.
The Crime Stoppers Prep Fair is made possible through the generous support of corporate and community
sponsors, including State Farm, Southern Illinois Healthcare, and Ameren. To win door prizes you must be present.
Main-stage breakout sessions are designed for an adult audience. Admission is free, and all members of the public
are welcome.
For more information, contact Kara Dunkel at CdaleCrimeStop@gmail.com or – text 618.414.5077