The 2004 City Showcase at the Congress of Cities in Indianapolis featured a number of programs emphasizing the ways in which cities and towns are improving services for youth and families in their communities. From financial planning to a youth initiated teen center, municipalities are working to improve the quality of life for their young residents, while engaging and encouraging them to become involved in civic participation activities.
Family Economic Success Plan - San Antonio, Texas
The Family Economic Success Plan (FESP) serves to improve the economic security of low-income families in San Antonio by building wealth and protecting assets through use of tax credits, savings and financial literacy training, and to expand the city?s capacity to provide services by facilitating the development of partnerships among supporters and providers of services to low-income working families.
Details: John Scarfo, 210-207-5007 or jscarfo@sanantonio.gov.
Keeping Every Youth Safe (KEYS) Afterschool Program - Lexington, S.C.
The mission statement of Lexington?s Keeping Every Youth Safe (KEYS) Afterschool Program is to provide a safe and structured atmosphere in which students can develop positive relationships with caring adults and family members. KEYS also provides an enrichment and life skills program to enhance character education, as well as academic tutoring. The program in housed at the Lexington Community Center.
Details: Mary Louise Resch, 803-356-82387 or mresch@lexsc.com.
Tubby?s Clubhouses - Lexington, Ky.
Tubby?s Clubhouses is a program that has five community centers with a mission to close the technology gap and provide life skills education to residents throughout Lexington. A key part of Tubby?s Clubhouses is the Dell TechKnow program, a 40-hour afterschool program where at-risk middle school students receive free refurbished desktop computers that they take apart and re-build. Plans for other programs at Tubby?s Clubhouses include providing educational resources for senior citizens, adult learners, and at-risk populations.
Details: Eric Howard, 859-258-3905 or ehoward@lfucg.com.
Youth Accountability Boards - Pasadena, Calif.
Pasadena?s Youth Accountability Boards, started in 1998, serve as hearing bodies for qualified juveniles arrested for their first offense. The boards, which are coordinated by the Pasadena Police Department, are comprised of local citizens who meet monthly to resolve the criminal cases. There are six boards that serve dozens of youth a year, providing alternatives and intervention to the usual juvenile justice.
Details: Sgt. Steve Kress, 626-744-3836 or skress@cityofpasadena.net.
Youth In Government /Youth In Action - Hampton, Va.
Hampton?s Youth in Government/ Youth in Action initiative offers a pyramid of opportunities for youth. Through the various opportunities, youth address issues that are important to them as well as to the city, such as race relations, neighborhood safety, and transportation. In 2004, approximately 125 youth held paid, intern or volunteer positions within local government and its boards and commissions. An additional 500+ held similar roles throughout the community.
Details: Cindy Carlson, 757-728-3280 or ccarlson@hampton.gov.
Youth Engagement Efforts - Ray City, Ga.
Ray City gives area youth a chance to participate and shape the way local government is run, with a hope that it will train new leaders in the community, through a youth council and a Mayor?s Youth Leadership Institute. The institute allows Ray City teens to learn about their community and the problems it faces, giving them an opportunity to make suggestions with the desired outcome of a well- informed and educated young citizenry. The Youth Council mirrors the make up of the City Council and holds meetings once a month, and every two weeks in the summer.
Details: Carl L. Camon, Mayor, 229-455-2501 or raycity@alltel.net.
Club Fusion - Las Cruces, N.M.
Club Fusion is a teen center in Las Cruces, run by and for young people since 1996. It offers classes, dances, live concerts, special events and other programs. Partnerships with community organizations provide a number of resources for the center, and local businesses donate everything from candy to equipment. Local teens are responsible for marketing and advertising Club Fusion. In addition to the five students on staff part time, there are one part-time and two full-time adult employees.
Details: City Hall, 505-526-0280.
The City Showcase is an annual exhibition of successful, creative programs from cities and towns across the country. This year, the Showcase will be held in Charlotte, N.C., at the annual Congress of Cities and Exposition, December 6-10, 2005.
Descriptions of each of these programs can be found in NLC?s Examples of Programs for Cities database. If you know of a city-sponsored program in your area that you think NLC should include in the Examples of Programs for Cities database, please contact Dylan Nicole de Kervor at 202-626-3073 or dekervor@nlc.org.