Hampton And Newport News Named One Of
100 BEST COMMUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Cities Recognized For Efforts To Help Young People Succeed

September 27, 2005

Hampton and Newport News have been selected winners of the first-ever national competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The competition was held by America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth and the winners were announced today. The winning communities were selected for their commitment to providing healthy, safe and caring environments for young people.

"Hampton is committed to its youth. We focus on the youth in our community, in our schools, in our homes and in our neighborhoods," said Mayor Ross A. Kearney, II. "They are the future and we recognize their input is invaluable. Hampton continues to move full steam ahead because we know young people in our community are the foundation for our future."

"The City of Newport News is working to ensure that all children and youth have the fundamental resources that they need to grow up to be healthy, happy and successful members of our community," said Newport News Mayor Joe S. Frank. "Our success has been and continues to be dependent upon all of us working together by sharing goals and resources toward that end. This award is a testimony to the tremendous efforts made by many of our city departments, schools, community agencies, individuals and young people who work together to make our community great."

Hampton is committed to youth involvement. From the creation of Hampton's Youth Civic Engagement in 1990 to Hampton's innovative schools, to Healthy Families, to the Youth Commission, to IN-SYNCH Partnerships; youth plays a vital role in Hampton. All of these programs work together to target every aspect of a child's life and allow for healthy development of all children with an eye to the future.

Newport News was selected as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People because it has made a long-term commitment to comprehensive, community-based efforts that help children and youth develop their interests, talents, and skills. Newport News adopted a Strategic Plan for Youth and created the Commission on Youth to serve as an advisor to City Council. The Commission is composed of youth members, citizens, and agency representatives. The goals of the Commission are to increase coordination among agency, expand opportunities for youth, and provide information to the community about helping youth to grow up healthy and avoid risk behaviors.

"We have had an amazing response from hundreds of communities, large and small, from Alaska to Florida," said Marguerite W. Sallee, President and CEO of America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth. "Our purpose for launching this competition is to appeal to America's competitive spirit to encourage communities to become great places to grow up. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, we have seen some inspiring examples of what can happen when communities across the country pull together to help people in times of urgent need. In the 100 Best communities, we have witnessed that same spirit at work in making the well-being of their children an urgent priority. Their outstanding efforts - to measure how well their children and youth are doing, to put more resources in place, and to form cross-sector partnerships - provide shining examples of what it means to keep America's Promise for our young people."

America's Promise Founding Chairman General Colin Powell launched the competition in May and both Hampton and Newport News applied for a place on the prestigious list. The winners were chosen by a distinguished selection panel of civic, business and nonprofit leaders, including United Way of America President Brian Gallagher, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, baseball great Cal Ripken Jr. and former Denver mayor Wellington Webb.

The selection panel evaluated 100 Best entries that required detailed information about each community's efforts to fulfill five essential promises critical to the well-being of young people: caring adults who are actively involved in their lives; safe places in which to learn and grow; a healthy start toward adulthood; an effective education that builds marketable skills; and opportunities to help others.

For more details about the 100 Best competition and the winners, please visit www.americaspromise.org.