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Tempe among "100 Best" for youth
February 02 , 2007 by EditorTempe, AZ - Tempe is celebrating its second year as one of the top communities in the nation for young people. America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth has named its selections for the 2007 100 Best Communities for Young People and Tempe has won the accolade two years in a row.
Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross and Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn announced the award Jan. 25 at the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), a Mesa technology school that draws high school students from all over the Valley.
Hundreds of communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands applied to win the designation, which honors commitments to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for young people. Founded in 2005 by General Colin Powell, America's Promise looks for communities that fulfill the organization's Five Promises: Caring Adults; Safe Places; Healthy Start; Effective Education; and Opportunities to Help Others.
Mayor Hugh Hallman said winning the award twice in a row is a major achievement - and one that is due to the dedication of thousands of community members who make Tempe a premier place to be a kid.
"Tempe will be celebrating our '100 Best' designation throughout 2007," Hallman said. "During that time, we want to highlight the many people, programs and facilities that make our community what it is, and hope that more people will join the effort."
Tempe's application for the 2007 award was possible because of the support of many partners, such as the Tempe Community Council, the East Valley Boys & Girls Club, KAET Channel 8, the Tempe Elementary School District and the Mountain Park Health Clinic, among others.
Tempe won the award, in part, because of the efforts of Tempe/Kyrene Communities In Schools (CIS), a collaboration of the City of Tempe, Tempe school districts and many businesses and nonprofits. CIS has opened nine family resource centers in high-poverty elementary schools, with the aim of supporting parents as they take part in their children's education.
Other programs and initiatives that helped single out Tempe for this honor include: the Mayor's Youth Advisory Commission, which gives young people a voice in local government; the city's establishment of an adaptive recreation program to serve children with disabilities who wish to participate in Special Olympics; an advisory committee of local businesses that hire special education and at-risk students for after-school jobs; the Tempe Public Library's new Experience Corps project, which pairs retirees with students for tutoring; and the first community health clinic serving low-income residents.
* For the award application, three young people gave powerful testimonials about growing up in Tempe. They are a peer mentor with Peer Solutions, a student from the Thomas J. Pappas School for the Homeless, and a graduate of the Kids Club program, who is now giving back a new crop of kids.
* Watch activities in the family resource centers at various Tempe schools.
* Watch operations at the Mountain Park Clinic.
* Watch the city's adaptive recreation program in action, as rowers take to Tempe Town Lake.
* Watch our young people tackle some of the most pressing issues affecting youth at the Tempe Mayor's Youth Town Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Westside Community Center.
* Watch dreams come true at the Cinderella Affair Boutique on Friday, March 30, as high school juniors and seniors choose from a selection of donated prom dresses at the Pyle Adult Recreation Center, 655 E. Southern Ave., in Tempe.
* Come see the first annual Tempe Youth Showcase on Sunday, April 15, from 1-3 p.m. at Celebrity Theatre. This event is produced by young people for young people to celebrate the diversity of our community.
* The Youth Courage Awards will bring tears to your eyes. See some remarkable young people who have overcome tremendous odds. The event takes place at The Buttes this April.
