Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2018 All-America City Awards, which this year focus on inclusive engagement practices that promote equity and bring all voices to the table to help solve our most pressing and complex issues.
According to the National Civic League, it chose this year’s focus in part to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and the Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (also known as the Kerner Commission).
The 1968 Kerner Commission report concluded, “It is time to make good the promises of American democracy to all citizens – urban and rural, white, black, Spanish surname, American Indians, and every minority group.”
All-America City applications should detail innovative practices and community projects that do one or more of the following:
• Promote positive community-police relations
• Promote racial healing and dialogues on race
• Expand government and institutional representation and access
• Further educational equity in the community
• Create affordable and safe housing; reduce poverty; increase job readiness and employment
• Focus on restorative justice
• Seek equitable transportation access
• Promote or ensure access to healthy food and/or to safe and healthy natural environments
Applications, along with a $250 application fee, are due by next Feb. 28. Communities that submit a letter of intent to apply by Oct. 18 will pay a reduced application fee of $150, but the letter of intent is not required to submit an application.
The application can be downloaded at www.nationalcivicleague.org/aac-2018.
The All-America City Award is given each year to 10 communities that excel in collaborating to address pressing problems. Since its inception in 1949, the program has recognized 500 communities. Nineteen Massachusetts communities have won the award.