Highlighting America’s 100 Best Communities for Young People
The 100 Best Communities for Young People competition honors outstanding efforts on behalf of young people by multiple sectors of communities. In cities, suburbs, small towns and counties across the country, this annual competition is leading communities to assess their efforts, work more effectively together for young people, and share best practices. Each week one of the 2007 100 Best Communities will be highlighted in the America’s Promise Bulletin and on our web site.
Louisville, Kentucky
In addition to being a great place to live, work and play, the Louisville, Kentucky, metro area is also a wonderful place to receive an education and prepare students for post secondary initiatives. In 2006, the city opened two new community schools and through partnerships, made a difference in the lives of the city’s youth by providing nearly 1,500 programs.
A few of the initiatives that convinced judges that Louisville Metro deserved the recognition as one of 100 Best Communities for Young People include:
Community Coordinated Child Care: An initiative that secured $44.6 million in federal, state and local funding which helped 21,456 children and their families receive high-quality childcare services.
Every 1 Reads: This program pairs children reading below grade level with volunteer tutors who help students improve reading and writing skills. The initiative has sparked financial support totaling $6.2 million of the $8 million goal and has collected and donated over 5,000 books for the youth.
Neighborhood Youth Boards: This organization’s goal is to empower young people to reach their full potential, change patterns of negative behavior, and develop youth leaders who work effectively with their peers to create positive social change. This program also helps develop strong leadership skills and prepares participants for college and the workforce.
YOU: A partnership between several local organizations has helped 230 students find jobs, 69 obtain a GED, 20 enter college, 171 make measurable gains in math or reading, and 31 students complete occupational training.
The urban Louisville Metro area, with a total population of nearly 700,000, has nurtured numerous partnerships to ensure its children perform well in the present and also have bright and promising futures. A few of the results-based outcomes for the area’s children and youth include:
Educational Achievement: 99% of the county’s high school graduates made a successful transition to adult life, when compared to the entire state (96%). Successful transition defines county students attending college, technical, or vocational school (73.9 %), and securing employment (22.3%), following graduation.
Psychological Health: In 2003, the suicide rate for Jefferson County residents under age 20 was 2.7% compared to the 2000 rate of 3.2%.
Outside of providing beneficial services for youth and their families, urban Louisville, situated on the banks of the Ohio River, is home to several economic and cultural activities. Among other events, the Kentucky Derby, an annual race of thoroughbred horses, creates jobs and entertainment for residents and visitors alike. Two weeks before the derby, Louisville hosts the Kentucky Derby Festival—the state’s largest event—which includes several marathons, a large parade and the Great Steamboat Race.