Spokane in top 100 towns for youth

Congratulations are due.

On Sept. 22, people from all over the country gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 100 Best Communities in America for young people, as judged by America’s Promise Alliance. Spokane was one of the 100.

“Spokane is a progressive community supported by a dynamic network of organizations and business leaders committed to the success of its youth,” according to program materials. “In Spokane, it’s about developing relationships with youth, connecting them with resources and growth opportunities, and empowering them to be the best they can be.”

The “100 Best” is a competition based on a community’s attention to the issues facing young people. More than 750 communities applied.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell founded America’s Promise in 1997. With the assistance of five past presidents, 30 governors, 100 mayors and 145 business leaders, the organization created the essential five promises that every youth needs to succeed: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to serve.

America’s Promise bills itself as the largest network of corporations, nonprofit organizations, foundations and advocacy groups in the United States.

“It just takes the community coming together and saying, ‘We will not let the youth fail,’ ” said Alma Powell, Alliance chairwoman and Colin Powell’s wife.

Besides the “100 Best” competition, America’s Promise has developed the “dropout prevention summit initiative” to address the growing high school dropout rate.

Completing high school is the No. 1 indicator that a young person is on the way to success, according to America’s Promise, but every year, 1.2 million U.S. high school students drop out.

The goal of the dropout initiative is to reduce that number by 2010 by sponsoring dropout summits in each state and most major cities; the first debuted in April. The summits will encourage communities to develop action plans for improving graduation rates.

Three points will be emphasized at the dropout summits: All youth should be covered by health care; each youth should receive the five promises; and youth should learn to value hard work through community service.

Using the strategies developed by America’s Promise, the city of Somerville, Mass., reduced its dropout rate by 50 percent in two years, according to the Alliance.

Spokane is expected to host a dropout summit in the spring.