Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The National Civic League is now accepting applications for the 2023 All-America City awards.
Optional letters of intent are due by Dec. 15, and applications are due by Feb. 15, 2023. Award finalists will be announced in March 2023, and the awards presentation will be held in Denver from June 9 to 11.
The theme for 2023 is “Creating Thriving Communities through Youth Engagement.”
The National Civic League is seeking to identify 10 communities that are breaking down barriers to meaningful youth participation and enacting programs that will improve quality of life for youth, and all residents, by extension.
To win, each community must demonstrate innovation, impact, equity and inclusiveness, civic engagement, and cross-sector collaboration by discussing the strength of their civic capital — the formal and informal relationships, networks and capacities they use to make decisions and solve problems — and to provide examples of community-driven projects/programs that have adapted and transformed the community to be more receptive to youth voices and have addressed their concerns for the future.
The National Civic League views civic engagement as more than presenting information or having people respond to questionnaires (though both are important); instead, the league promotes efforts that seek to listen to, and learn from, residents in ongoing conversations and leverage those insights to shape the way programs are administered, designed, and executed.
The All-America Cities award celebrates the best in local innovation, civic engagement and cross-sector collaboration, a reminder of the potential within every community to tackle tough issues and create real change. Since 1949, the National Civic League has recognized more than 500 communities, including 19 from Massachusetts.
Previous Massachusetts winners are: Barnstable (2007), Blackstone Valley Region (1988), Boston (1949, 1951, 1962), Chelsea (1998, 2014), Dennis (1978), Fall River (1975, 2016), Fitchburg (1970, 1974), Gardner (1975), Haverhill (1979), Lowell (1971, 1999), Malden (1966), New Bedford (1989), Newton (1977), North Adams (1973), Pittsfield (2012), Somerville (1972, 2009, 2015), Southbridge (1979), Springfield (2012, 2017), and Worcester (1949, 1960, 1965, 1981, 2000).
The application fee is $150 for communities that submit a letter of intent by Dec. 15 and $250 for communities that do not.
For more information, visit the All-America City Award website.