Published: January 24, 2007 09:40 pm      

America’s Promise recognizes Mercer, Monroe as top community for youth

BLUEFIELD — America’s Promise has selected Mercer and Monroe counties as two of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Youth for 2007.

Alma Powell, chairwoman of America’s Promise, will officially unveil the Top 100 Communities this morning during a series of national appearances. Mercer County was a 2005 recipient of the unique honor. Mercer and Monroe counties are the only two localities in West Virginia to be recognized by the Alliance for Youth for their commitment to providing a healthy, safe and caring environment for young people.

“Nothing is more important than seeing that our children and youth have the resources and support systems they need to thrive and succeed,” America’s Promise Founding Chairman and retired General Colin L. Powell, said in a press release issued by the Alliance for Youth. “When a community provides all that its young people need to be healthy and secure, they deserve to be honored and showcased as an outstanding example of what it takes to successfully nurture this nation’s young people.”

Mercer and Monroe counties competed against hundreds of communities in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, who were all vying for the unique distinction.

“We were really excited the first time we got the honor, and to receive this honor back-to-back really validates all of the hard work of our partners, and what we want to do with youth in our area,” Greg Puckett, executive director of Community Connections and a member of the Creating Opportunities for Youth Coalition, said. “By working with the five promises to give our youth the best possible future, we all benefit - not only the agencies but the entire community as a whole. This is an outstanding recognition of the commitment of our communities. We are not perfect - yet we continually strive to achieve the best, and that is what this honor is for.”

“It’s a huge honor,” Judy Azulay, partnership development coordinator for the Monroe County Schools, said. “I think it really speaks to the partnerships that we have between schools and the community, and how we are really fulfilling all five of the promises of America’s Promise. We are tremendously excited. While some might see being rural as a disadvantage, we see rural as being a tremendous advantage for our kids in terms of the opportunities they have for place-based education in their family farms and small businesses. We think that small counties such as Monroe are ideal places for our young people to build relationships with each other and with responsible adults in our communities that fulfill the five promises of America’s Promise.”

Dual press conferences are planned Friday in Mercer and Monroe counties to discuss the award. The public is invited and encouraged to attend both events. Mercer County will hold a press conference Friday at 11 a.m. at the Planet Xtreme Teen Center in Princeton and Monroe County will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. at James Monroe High School in Lindside.

The 100 Best Communities for Young People award was first launched in 2005 by General Powell in partnership with Capital One Financial Corporation. Other members of America’s Promise Alliance — including the United Way of America, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Big Brothers Big Sisters, National Association of Counties and the American Association of School Administrators among many others — took leading roles in encouraging communities to compete in the 100 Best competition.

The winners of the 2007 award were chosen by a distinguished selection panel of civic, business and non-profit leaders, including United Way of America President Brian Gallagher; U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue; NBC News Washington Bureau Chief and Moderator of Meet the Press Tim Russert; and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb.

“We held this competition to appeal to America’s competitive spirit to encourage communities to become great places to grow up.” Marguerite W. Kondracke, president and CEO of America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth, said in the news release. “Our winners’ outstanding efforts to deliver the five promises are shining examples of what it means to keep America’s Promise for our young people.”

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com