City's Youth Engagement Programs Recognized by National Civic League
Published on April 03, 2023
SAN ANTONIO (April 3, 2023) – The City of San Antonio has been named one of 20 finalists for the 2023 All-America City Award. The National Civic League has recognized 10 communities with the award yearly since 1949, and this year’s theme is “Creating Thriving Communities through Youth Engagement.”
This year’s finalists are being recognized for their work to improve the health and wellbeing of young people and, by extension, all residents. A primary focus was placed on communities that are authentically involving and welcoming youth in this work.
San Antonio’s application emphasized how youth voice and advocacy are included in decision-making throughout the city. Examples of the way San Antonio applies these tenets include:
The City’s San Antonio Youth Commission and Teen Ambassadors, which advise the Mayor and City Council on important youth issues;
Close to Home Youth Action Board, composed of current and former homeless youth;
San Antonio Education Partnership scholarship program; and the
Ambassador Summer Internship Program, which created an internship collaborative including Family Service, SA WORX, Workforce Solutions Alamo.
In addition, the NXT LEVEL Youth Opportunity Center, which opened in 2019, provides education and career services for youth aged 16 to 24 who are not working or in school. The City of San Antonio works in partnership with Communities in Schools-San Antonio, Goodwill Industries of San Antonio, Northside Independent School District and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County to provide these services to young adults.
The City has joined four local institutions of higher education and multiple non-profits in bringing resource equity to youth aging out of foster care through the Bexar County Fostering Educational Success (BCFES) Program. Local leaders have also embraced a shared mission to ensure that all young people in San Antonio and Bexar County are ready for the future through Future Ready Bexar County, a local action initiative by the UP Partnership in collaboration with the City of San Antonio, the National Resource Network, and Communities in Schools-San Antonio.
Finalist cities were selected based on shared vision, civic engagement, inclusiveness and equity, collaboration, innovation, and impact. The winners will be announced at the National Civic League convention on June 9-11 in Denver, CO.
“The City of San Antonio is proud to be named a finalist for the All-America City award,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. “San Antonio is a compassionate city and this is reflected in how our community responds to the needs of all residents. I am grateful for the programs and services that have been created, specifically, for our young adults.”
City Manager Erik Walsh added, “Last year, the National Civic League named San Antonio an All-America City for the work we undertook to improve early school success and equitable learning recovery. This year, San Antonio is recognized for our work with older youth. I’m proud to say we are the only city recognized by the National Civic League in 2022 and 2023 for our work in improving educational outcomes for our children and youth. This says a lot about how serious the San Antonio community is about investing in our next generation of leaders.”
The other finalist cities are Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; Davie County, NC; Decatur, GA; Fayetteville, NC; Franklin Township, NJ; Fulton, MO; Gardena, CA; Gonzales, CA; Hampton, VA; Independence, Ohio; Mesa, AZ; Monrovia, CA; Mount Pleasant, SC; New York, NY; Port St. Lucie, FL; Redwood City, CA; Saginaw, TX; and Wellington, FL.