Competition
Recognizes Outstanding, Innovative Efforts That Benefit Youth
January 24, 2008: For the second year in a row, the Greater Midland community has been
named one of the 100
Best communities for young people in America. To find out some of the reasons why, check out the City of Midland YouTube video at right.
The 100
Best competition, sponsored by the
America's Promise Alliance, honors communities for their commitment to providing
healthy, safe and caring environments for young people.
More than 750 individuals representing communities in all 50 states
participated in the competition this year.
“The continued growth and sustainability of our community depends in great part on how well we care for our youth,” said Midland Mayor Bruce A.
Johnson. “Midland
is proud of the fact that we make our young people a top priority. We
are working to make sure they stay in school and have all the resources
necessary to lead healthy, productive lives.”
Outstanding
education at every grade level, along with programs for underprivileged
children, recreational opportunities for youth, and a plethora of
opportunities to develop civic-minded and caring young people, make
Greater Midland a 100 Best community.
One example
of why the Greater Midland community is one of the 100 Best Communities
for Young People is an initiative called the Graduation Readiness Assessment and Direction (GRAD) program,
which was new in 2007. Through the Midland County Educational Service Agency-sponsored program,
at-risk 16- to 18-year-olds receive employability skills training, tutoring, mentoring, work-based learning opportunities, leadership development, counseling and other supportive services to ensure they have the tools to succeed as adults.
To find out more about the many programs and initiatives that make Greater Midland a 100 Best community for kids, click on the 2008 application (in PDF format)
at left.
"Where's the Wagon"
Click on
Where's the Wagon to find out how the Greater Midland community is
celebrating its award.
More Information
For more details about the 100 Best competition and a complete list of
this year’s winning communities, please visit
www.americaspromise.org.
To read the
Greater Midland Community's winning application, click on the link at
left.