10 cities win 2010 All-America City awards
The Denver-based National Civic League (NCL) has announced the winners of the 61st annual All-America City award. The awards recognize neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties and metro regions that demonstrate an ability to address serious challenges with innovative, grassroots strategies that promote civic engagement and cooperation between the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
The 2010 All-America Cities are Chandler, Ariz.; Lynwood, Calif.; Rancho Cordova, Calif.; North Miami, Fla.; Acworth, Ga.; Des Moines, Iowa; Salisbury, Md.; Gastonia, N.C.; Mount Pleasant, S.C.; and El Paso, Texas. “These All-America Cities represent what is working in American communities,” said NCL President Gloria Rubio Cortés in a statement. “They are taking on challenging issues and finding innovative ways of creating a better future. We are inspired by their stories every year.”
To qualify for the award, communities submit a detailed application listing three examples of successful community-based problem-solving. This year’s winners addressed such issues as homelessness, obesity, economic development, low-income housing, improving schools, and diversity and inclusion. “This is the best that is going on in the country,” said All-America City judges jury foreperson Sharon Metz. “It’s all the issues we talk about and read about in the news — energy, healthcare, jobs, programs for youth and children — only these people are doing more than talking. They are getting busy and working to solve these challenges. They change their communities, and little by little, they are changing the country.”
More than 600 communities have received the All-America City Award, and some have won the award multiple times. The All-America Cities designation has helped communities win grants and new resources and attract new employers, according to NCL.
Read more information on the All-America City Award and the National Civic League.