00 Communities Honored For Positive Acceptance Of Young People
America’s Promise-The Alliance for Youth has announced the winners of a first- ever national competition to identify 100 Best Communities for Young People. The winning communities, ranging from small towns to urban neighborhoods across America, are being celebrated for their commitment to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for young people.
Members of America’s Promise Alliance, including United Way of America, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Junior Achievement and the YMCA and many others, took leading roles in the 100 Best competition. 100 Best Communities for Young People was launched in partnership with Capital One Financial Corporation.
America’s Promise Founding Chairman General Colin Powell announced the competition in May and communities applied for a place on the list.
The 100 Best winners were chosen by a selection panel of civic, business and nonprofit leaders, including United Way of America President Brian Gallagher, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue, NBC Washington Bureau Chief and Moderator of Meet the Press Tim Russert, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, baseball great Cal Ripken Jr. and former Denver mayor Wellington Webb.
The selection panel’s decisions were based upon detailed information provided in their applications about each community’s efforts to fulfill five essential promises critical to the well-being of young people which are:
–caring adults who are actively involved in their lives;
–safe places in which to learn and grow;
–a healthy start toward adulthood;
–an effective education that builds marketable skills; and
–opportunities to help others.
To honor the 100 Best communities selected, the America’s Promise Alliance held a special event last week in Washington, D.C. The celebration was dedicated to the children affected by Hurricane Katrina, highlighting outstanding community initiatives across the country that are providing displaced children with the services and support needed to thrive no matter where they are. All proceeds from this event will go toward helping the children impacted by Katrina.
The Alliance will also sponsor a year-long celebration including a special day in each of the winning communities and a series of regional forums across the country that will enable communities to share their success stories and learn effective strategies from one another that will further enrich the lives of their young people.
The “100 Best” communities cover 40 states. They range in size from 850 people to more than two million. Nearly half are urban; 22 are rural; and 29 are suburban.
The winners are:
Alabama:
Sylacauga
Alaska:
Anchorage
Arizona:
Chandler
Scottsdale
Tempe
Yavapai County
Arkansas:
Little Rock
California:
Chino
Irvine
Long Beach
Sacramento County
San Jose
San Mateo County
Solano County
Colorado:
Denver
Loveland and Fort Collins
Connecticut:
Bridgeport
Milford
South Windsor
Stamford
Florida:
Bradenton
Coral Springs
Jacksonville
Pembroke Pines
St. Petersburg
Volusia
Hawaii:
Honolulu
Idaho:
Caldwell
Madison County and Rexburg
Meridian
Nampa
Salmon
Indiana:
Evansville
Indianapolis
Iowa:
Black Hawk County
Des Moines
Lamoni
Kansas:
Greater Kansas City
Lawrence-Douglas County
Salina
Kentucky:
Lexington
Louisville
Mt. Sterling
Murray-Calloway County
Ohio County
Maine:
Old Town
Waterville
Maryland:
Baltimore
Howard County
Wicomico County and Salisbury
Massachusetts:
Barnstable County
Brockton
Cambridge
Michigan:
Alger and Marquette Counties
Jackson County
Minnesota:
Mankato
Olmsted County and Rochester
St. Louis Park
Missouri:
Greater Kansas City
Greene County and Springfield
St. Joseph
St. Louis City
Montana:
Missoula
Nebraska:
Boys Town
Buffalo County
New Hampshire:
Manchester
New Mexico:
Albuquerque
New York:
Central Finger Lakes Region
North Carolina:
Charlotte
Fort Bragg
Wayne County
North Dakota:
Grand Forks
Ohio:
Columbus
Findlay-Hancock County
Oklahoma:
Oklahoma City
Oregon:
Benton County and Corvallis
Pennsylvania:
Abington
Central Bucks County and Bensalem
Clarion County
Harrisburg
York
Rhode Island:
Providence
South Carolina:
Charleston
Rock Hill
South Dakota:
Sioux Falls
Tennessee:
Greene County and Greenville
Memphis
Nashville
Texas:
Austin
Houston
Nueces County
Sugar Land
Virginia:
Chesapeake and Virginia Beach
Chesterfield County
Newport News and Hampton
Washington:
Bellevue
Pierce County and Lakewood
Spokane
West Virginia:
Mercer County
Wisconsin:
Appleton and Fox Cities
Green Bay