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2007 Regional Forums

America’s Promise Alliance conducted two regional forums in 2007 in Houston, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee. The purpose of the forums was to help communities reach more young people with more of the Five Promises—the fundamental resources young people need to succeed. A major focus for both of the forums was mobilizing communities and states to address the high school dropout crisis and increase graduation rates.

SESSION PRESENTATIONS/HANDOUTS
Many presenters provided their handouts and presentation materials to review online or download. Please see below for presentation links.

Keynote Addresses/Plenary Sessions

• Breaking the Silence: Addressing the High School Dropout Crisis
  John Bridgeland, President and CEO, Civic Enterprises
  
• Family Strengthening and Engaging Parents
  Judy Langford, Senior Fellow, Center for the Study of Social Policy
  
• Alignment Nashville
  Tom Cigarran, Chairman, Operating Board, Alignment Nashville

 

National Action Strategies
Improving the lives of 15 million at-risk young people through the power of the Five Promises is the five-year goal of the America’s Promise Alliance. The three National Action Strategies will help bring more Promises to more young people, particularly those most at-risk.

• All Kids Covered Presentation
• Ready for the World Presentation
• Where the Kids Are Presentation

Policy Supports for Children and Youth
The actions that elected leaders take to implement policies, initiatives and programs to improve outcomes for children and youth can play a key role in strengthening high school graduation and educational success for young people.

• The Honorable William Bell, Mayor, City of Durham, NC
• Mary Gwen Wheeler, Sr. Policy Advisor to Mayor Jerry E. Abramson, Louisville, KY
• The Honorable Richard Baker, Mayor, City of St. Petersburg, FL

Sharing Best Practices: The Five Promises
The FIVE PROMISES have a powerful impact. Research suggests that young people with the Five Promises do better in school, are more likely to pursue higher education and enjoy better relationships with their peers and families. They are less likely to engage in risky behaviors, and are five to 10 times more likely to become productive citizens in their communities.

Caring Adults

• CityCare’s Whiz Kids, Oklahoma City, OK
• The Nurturing Parent Program, Broomfield, CO
• Veteran Tutors, St. John's Tri-School Community, Austin, TX
• Dubuque Mentoring Partnership, Dubuque, IA
• Kalamazoo Gazette's Rising Stars Summer Journalism Program, Kalamazoo, MI

Safe Places

• New Image Summer Camp, Hollywood, FL
• Playful City USA, KaBOOM!, National Alliance Partner
• Play ‘N’ Close to Home, St. Petersburg, FL

 
Healthy Start

• Reducing Adolescence Violence Education (R.A.V.E.), Brentwood, CA
• Childhood Obesity Task Force, Findlay-Hancock County, OH
• Lenawee County Anti-Bullying Task Force, Lenawee County, MI

Effective Education

• Parent Information and Resource Centers, Lower Yakima Valley, WA
• Jobs for America’s Graduates, National Alliance Partner
• Project Discovery, Alexandria, VA
• Smaller Learning Communities, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN

Opportunities to Help Others

• Teen Court, Los Alamos, NM
• Link Crew, Coalition for Chandler Youth, AZ
• Serve and Learn in Hanover, Hanover County, VA
• Kids Care Club, Nashville, TN
• The Saginaw Community Foundation's Youth FORCE, Saginaw County, MI

The Regional Forums were made possible in part by the generous support of Ford Motor Company Fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.