WASHINGTON, D.C. — Providence Mayor Vincent Cianci will receive a "Special Recognition" award during The U.S. Conference of Mayors Arts Award presentation for his outstanding role in the creation of The United States Conference of Mayors Arts Award for Programs Reaching Youth at Risk. Las Cruces Mayor Ruben Smith, Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, and Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams will receive first, second, and third place awards, respectively, for outstanding arts programs in their communities that reach youth at risk. The United States Conference of Mayors Arts Award for Program Reaching Youth at Risk will be awarded Friday, January 28, 2000 at the Conference’s 68^th Winter Meeting’s Closing Luncheon, which will be held from 11:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the Capital Hilton Hotel.

Las Cruces Mayor Ruben Smith’s winning program, Club Fusion Teen Center, a hub within the teen community center in Las Cruces, offering children a safe place for youth to gather providing a variety of artistic outlets for teens to express themselves. Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer’s winning program, The Matrix Theatre Company, a professional community-based theatre, fosters a community of creativity and social justice through the development of original theatre, where children and youth are the creators of new work. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams’ winning program, Andrew Cacho’s African Drummers and Dancers, introduces students to the cultural and artistic significance of African and Caribbean drumming and dancing. Not only does the program provide the students with insight into a unique heritage, but it has provided a cultural enhancement for the Southeast community, and the city.

The United States Conference of Mayors Arts Award for Program Reaching Youth at Risk was made possible this year through the generous contribution of Ms. Christina Mattin of Boston, Massachusetts.

All press must register to gain access to Winter Meeting events. Advance registration is recommended. This can be done by phone by calling the USCM press office or completing the press registration form on the web site, /68thWinterMeeting. On site registrations will be accepted in the USCM press room at the Capital Hilton Hotel. The USCM press room on site will be the Pan American Room (Ph. 202-639-5422). Press conferences will be held in the New York Room.

The U. S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are about 1,100 such cities in the country today. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor.