Recognition is first in 11 years, third in 40 years
Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Monday, June 29, 2015 at 11:03 a.m.
For only the third time in 40 years and first time in 11 years, Spokane has been honored as an All-America City.
Spokane was recognized by the National Civic League as one of 10 All-America cities throughout the country. The National Civic League is a 120-year-old nonprofit with a mission of fostering and sharing promising practices of local government and public engagement.
“The competition was strong and as you see all of the great ideas and collaboration from communities around the country you realize what a tremendous honor it is for Spokane to be selected,” Spokane Mayor David Condon said.
Since 1949, more than 2,000 cities have been named finalist and only 600 have become winners. Spokane, one of 14 finalists this year, also won the award in 1974 and 2004.
This year’s award focused on community efforts to engage and support vulnerable young men and boys, aligning with efforts such as The White House’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. Spokane’s entry highlighted three programs in youth engagement and intervention programs. Community Attendance Support Teams or CAST program has drawn funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and increased the on-time graduation rate to 83 percent following the 2013-14 school year. Communities in Schools has been serving and supporting vulnerable youth in two local school districts since 2008. The Youth Police Initiative, which started in 2014, is breaking the cycle of mutual distrust between officers and teens.
