Date: March 31, 2009 Contact: Communications Team: (316) 268-4351
Documents Available for Download: Finalists Named for 2009 All-America City Award All-American City Finalist News Conference
Documents Available for Download:
The City of Wichita has been named a finalist for the 2009 All-America City Award. Wichita will be among 32 cities that will compete for the top-10, All-America City honor from June 17 through June 19 in Tampa Bay. The City’s application for the All-America City Award, which was submitted on March 16, featured three projects: 21st Street Opportunity Drive Youth Empowerment Zone, Mennonite Housing Rehabilitation Services and Visioneering Wichita. “This recognition is validation that Wichita is one of America’s great cities,” Mayor Carl Brewer said. “We’re eager and excited to go to Tampa and compete against the rest of the best.” The application submitted included Wichita census data, a community story, a project specific to youth and children (Opportunity Drive) and two projects addressing community challenges (Mennonite Housing and Visioneering Wichita). Representatives from the featured projects and City will participate in the Tampa Bay competition, which requires a production showcasing the featured projects. Wichita is a three-time All-America City winner (1961, 1993, 1999) and a three-time finalist (1990, 1997, 2002.) The award is presented by the Denver-based National Civic League (NCL), which since 1949 has recognized the efforts of extraordinary communities. Each year the NCL honors 10 communities for effectively addressing their most critical challenges. The three featured projects are summarized as follows. Mennonite Housing Rehabilitation Services (MHRS) was founded in 1975, with a vision for repairing homes for elderly and disabled residents. Although the original mission remains, the organization has recently expanded to make homeownership dreams come true for low-income residents. Visioneering Wichita (VW) is a long-term, regional strategic planning effort, which aims to engage various aspects of the community. The process has engaged thousands of people and collected their feedback and input which have helped shape priorities. Issues addressed include job creation, retention of young people, ensuring education at various stages and improving quality of life initiatives. A process was created by which the community could reach consensus on major issues of local, regional and statewide importance. Opportunity Drive serves more than 11,000 children 18 and younger who live within walking distance of 21st Street and a distressed surrounding area. The multi-purpose project features TOP (The Opportunity Project) Learning Center, the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas and the Gordon Parks Academy. TOP helps preschoolers prepare for kindergarten. The Boys and Girls Club is a recreational and educational facility that serves youth in an impoverished, high-crime area. Gordon Parks Academy, which opened in August, is a kindergarten through eighth grade public school, which is seeking certification as an International Baccalaureate program. Back to Top
The City of Wichita has been named a finalist for the 2009 All-America City Award. Wichita will be among 32 cities that will compete for the top-10, All-America City honor from June 17 through June 19 in Tampa Bay.
The City’s application for the All-America City Award, which was submitted on March 16, featured three projects: 21st Street Opportunity Drive Youth Empowerment Zone, Mennonite Housing Rehabilitation Services and Visioneering Wichita.
“This recognition is validation that Wichita is one of America’s great cities,” Mayor Carl Brewer said. “We’re eager and excited to go to Tampa and compete against the rest of the best.”
The application submitted included Wichita census data, a community story, a project specific to youth and children (Opportunity Drive) and two projects addressing community challenges (Mennonite Housing and Visioneering Wichita). Representatives from the featured projects and City will participate in the Tampa Bay competition, which requires a production showcasing the featured projects.
Wichita is a three-time All-America City winner (1961, 1993, 1999) and a three-time finalist (1990, 1997, 2002.) The award is presented by the Denver-based National Civic League (NCL), which since 1949 has recognized the efforts of extraordinary communities. Each year the NCL honors 10 communities for effectively addressing their most critical challenges. The three featured projects are summarized as follows.
Mennonite Housing Rehabilitation Services (MHRS) was founded in 1975, with a vision for repairing homes for elderly and disabled residents. Although the original mission remains, the organization has recently expanded to make homeownership dreams come true for low-income residents.
Visioneering Wichita (VW) is a long-term, regional strategic planning effort, which aims to engage various aspects of the community. The process has engaged thousands of people and collected their feedback and input which have helped shape priorities. Issues addressed include job creation, retention of young people, ensuring education at various stages and improving quality of life initiatives. A process was created by which the community could reach consensus on major issues of local, regional and statewide importance.
Opportunity Drive serves more than 11,000 children 18 and younger who live within walking distance of 21st Street and a distressed surrounding area. The multi-purpose project features TOP (The Opportunity Project) Learning Center, the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas and the Gordon Parks Academy. TOP helps preschoolers prepare for kindergarten. The Boys and Girls Club is a recreational and educational facility that serves youth in an impoverished, high-crime area. Gordon Parks Academy, which opened in August, is a kindergarten through eighth grade public school, which is seeking certification as an International Baccalaureate program.
Back to Top
City Hall 455 N. Main Wichita, KS 67202