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Minneapolis Mayor Co- Chairs Democratic Platform Committee July 31, 2000 Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, named Co-chair of The Democratic Platform Committee, brings a wealth of experience in a wide range of issues in helping hammer out the 2000 platform at The Democratic convention in Los Angels This August. Mayor Belton was also named a trustee of The Conference at the 68th Annual Conference meeting in Seattle this past June. As mayor, she has promoted an agenda supporting children and their families. Active in the Conference of Mayors, she serves as Chair of the Youth Violence Task Force. Since 1996, she also has been Vice Chair of The Conference's Task Force on Public Education. Sayles Belton has also been actively involved in the America's Promise program, leading Minneapolis' delegation to the President's Summit for America' s Future. In the City of Minneapolis, Mayors Sayles Belton has strongly advocated for policy changes that support student learning. She has championed community schools, high academic standards, and later start times for middle and high school students. Sayles Belton also co-chaired two Better Schools referendums, which were overwhelmingly approved by voters. These referendums put more money directly into the school system, in order to decrease class sizes and implement early child education programs. Everybody Reads is another public-private initiative to leverage community resources to ensures that all children are reading at grade level by the third grade. Launched by Mayor Sayles Belton in 1999, the programs places trained community volunteers in Minneapolis schools to tutor children who are below reading level. "Everybody Reads is part of my personal commitment to promote reading in Minneapolis," said Sayles Belton. The Mayor's selection to the Board of Trustees will increase the Mayor's power to impact federal policy and legislation. She will continue her advocacy for education, youth development, and strengthening families. "Mayor Sayles Belton is a mayor who is known for her innovation and willingness to contribute new ideas to her peers in the U.S. Conference of Mayors," said Conference President Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles. "Sharon knows what is important and acts upon it. I have appreciated her efforts to foster regional cooperation and collaboration and look to her as a valiant leader in our joint efforts to promote developmental assets for youth."     
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