For the sixth consecutive year, America’s Promise Alliance has named Scottsdale one of the“100 Best Communities for Young People.”
The Alliance applauded Scottsdale for developing programs that support youth education, employment and community service.
To address dropout issues, the Boys & Girls Club’s “Be Great Graduate” initiative teaches academic, emotional and social skills to encourage participation in school. Scottsdale also offers several reading programs at the public library to engage parents in child literacy activities.
To help youth prepare for successful careers, the Scottsdale Teen Employment Program provides job readiness training, resume assistance, mock interviews and job referrals. Similarly, the Scottsdale Unified School District offers a Career and Technical Education program to prepare young people for possible careers in a variety of employment sectors.
Programs that engage youth in community activities include the Mayor’s Youth Council, which provides a youth perspective on local government issues, and Scottsdale Unified School District’s Service Learning Program, which engages more than 400 youth in more than 50,000 hours of community service.
“We are honored to have received this award for the sixth consecutive year,” said Mayor W. J. “Jim” Lane. “The success of our youth is not an accident. Ensuring the well-being of our youngest residents has been and will continue to be a community priority.”
This year, more than 320 communities from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were nominated for the “100 Best” distinction. The winners are a diverse group, ranging from small communities like Lamoni, Iowa, to large cities like New York City. A list of all 2012 winners can be found at www.americaspromise.org/100best.