November 21, 2005

America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth awarded five of the 100 Best Communities for Young People $20,000 each in honor of their work to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. The winners were announced November 2 at a special National Forum and “American Street Festival.”

The five 100 Best Communities that received the $20,000 award for their response to Hurricane Katrina are:

• Long Beach (CA) – where the local Red Cross chapter hosted “Welcome Fairs” with more than 25 service providers to connect the new residents with housing, employment opportunities and health care services. Private companies, students in local schools, the city’s recreation centers and Long Beach City College raised thousands of dollars for hurricane relief, in addition to hosting food and clothing drives.

• Houston (TX) – offered several large facilities to house hurricane victims. Parents were able to enroll their children in school with the help of volunteers. A group of mothers provided children displaced by the hurricane the opportunity to create, discuss and process their experience through art.

• Rock Hill (SC) – Hometown Cares, a disaster relief program already in place to aid tsunami victims last year, raised more than $600,000 to aid Katrina victims. Youth in the community collected financial donations, clothes and toiletries, sold lemonade, hosted a talent show, made get-well cards, and have adopted schools in Mississippi.

• Mankato (MN) – adopted Natchitoches (LA) and is housing thousands of evacuees and providing several buses of supplies and student-designed cards offering love and support.

• Salisbury (MD) – the community foundation, Red Cross, local television and students and teaches throughout the county’s public school system have raised thousands of dollars for hurricane relief. The local university is offering online courses for college students in the affected areas.

America’s Promise held this first-ever national competition to identify 100 Best Communities for Young People. The winning cities were honored for their commitment to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for young people.

The complete list of the 100 Best Communities was carried in the October 3 issue of U.S.Mayor. A complete list can also be found at: americaspromise.org