The Laurel/Jones County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will host the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST) this weekend.

Officials with the NAACP in a press conference on Tuesday on the steps of the Jones County Courthouse in Laurel issued a community call for all residents to become involved in the training seminar designed to educate local residents.

James B. Jones, president of the local NAACP branch, said the seminar is being offered free of charge to the public to educate and motivate local residents to become more aware.

“It’s a very good educational opportunity for the community to meet with FBI and Justice Department officials,” he said. “This seminar is open to everyone. We welcome the public of this community and surrounding counties, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin or religious affiliation.”

Jones said the local branch has been working with the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department to organize this event, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday.

Jones said Saturday’s event will be “the first time this type seminar has been done in Mississippi.”

“The FBI has had a long-term commitment of building and strengthening relations between themselves and various communities around this country and is very eager for this proven-effective program to be continued,” Jones said. “The FBI’s CREST Program will provide an overview of the FIB and the Department of Justice’s policies and procedures.”

Jones said the event will be held at St. Elmo M.B. Church’s Robert Earl Jones Life Center located at 512 South Sixth Avenue.

A free lunch from noon to 1 p.m. will be provided by the NAACP.

Those interested can send a card or short note acknowledging your attendance to the Laurel-Jones County NAACP, P.O. Box 1587, Laurel, MS 39441 or by calling Linda Jones-Watson, youth director and media liaison, at (601) 319-3159 by Friday.