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Lincoln is named top city for youth

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 05:47:29 pm CST

America’s Promise Alliance  announced Thursday that Lincoln is a winner of its 2008 100 Best Communities for Young People competition.

More than 300 communities in all 50 states applied for the honor this year, and the winners come from 37 states. The Alliance is the nation’s largest alliance dedicated to children and youth and conducts the awards program in partnership with Capital One.

Lincoln is now eligible to apply for $300,000 in grants from the Alliance.

Story Photo
Jahkerry Anderson, 6, hugs the tail of Parks and Recreation mascot Parker Rex the Fox at the F Street Recreation Center. (LJS File)

Related Link(s):


See the Alliance's top 100 cities for youth

“This national recognition confirms what we have always known — there is no better place to raise children than Lincoln,” said Mayor Chris Beutler, who commented from Washington, D.C., where he is attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting.

The 100 Best competition was first held in 2005. To enter, cities are required to submit detailed information on existing community programs and initiatives that help deliver the “Five Promises,” resources identified by the Alliance as being critical to the development of healthy, successful children: caring adults; safe places; healthy start; effective education; and opportunities to help others.

Among the highlights of Lincoln’s application were the following programs and services:

* The Community Services Initiative coordinates programs in basic and emergency needs, behavioral health, child and youth development and abuse prevention.

* The Community Learning Centers make use of local schools to offer services to students, families and neighborhoods.

* The Learn to Dream program offers scholarships to all students graduating from the Lincoln Public Schools or private schools who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. The scholarships, funded by Union Bank & Trust and Nelnet, provide tuition and fees for up to 45 quarter credit hours at Southeast Community College.

* The Parks and Recreation Department’s recreational centers offer a range of social, recreational and educational opportunities to young people, including inter-generational activities, multi-ethnic community gardening, nutrition education and other childhood obesity prevention services.

* The Peoples Health Center provides healthcare to uninsured and under-insured children and families.

For more details about the 100 Best competition and to see a complete list of the 2008 winners, visit www.americaspromise.org.


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But wrote on January 24, 2008 12:43 pm:
" It ranks poorly for the elderly. "

 You know wrote on January 24, 2008 1:17 pm:
" the qualifications for this award don't tell me much. I guess it says that lincoln has a lot of low income programs. At least with the five programs listed. It doesn't say much about the dropout rate or graduation rate or the drug and gang rate. I don't think I would forward this piece to the New York Times just yet. A lot of towns have the same programs but not at such an elevated factor. One thing it did though was give the mayor, who hasn't been in office long enough to take credit, a trip to d.c. "

 Dee wrote on January 24, 2008 1:25 pm:
" This must be if your middle or upper class. There are so many people who fall through the cracks in this town and state that were obviously over looked when making this award. "

 WOW!!!! wrote on January 24, 2008 1:29 pm:
" Nice job Lincoln, what a wonderful and positive story, and what an impressive honor for our city. "

 taxed wrote on January 24, 2008 2:03 pm:
" I'd rather be the least taxed city. Fat chance of that! "

 Ilovelincolnsortof wrote on January 24, 2008 2:53 pm:
" This is great news...now if one could add that Lincoln is known for raising our young persons with an acceptance for all people: gays, minorities, handicapped, foreign-born, and not to be the bigoted adults and the fake-Christians adults that most of us are -- we'd really be raising our young people in a way where they can grow in to adulthood with the tools to deal with the real world. "

 Gregg wrote on January 24, 2008 3:36 pm:
" So, out of barely 300 entries, we were chosen among the top 33.3%?
So we had a 1 in 3 chance of being 'honored'.
There are over 30,000 incorporated communities in the USA... so out of the 1% that applied for this contest, we're in the upper 1/3.

That doesn't seem like a huge honor to me. "

 JoBeth wrote on January 24, 2008 4:28 pm:
" Boy, parks and Rec could sure use the money after the budget cuts. It would be interesting to see how this City ranks in care for the elderly...the one who built the City. Bet it doesn't rank at all...too bad, elderly usually have more disposable income and generate more business than the young. Get out while you are young! "

 Lars wrote on January 24, 2008 4:32 pm:
" How does Lincoln rank in providing well paying jobs to the
youth when they enter the job market? "

 Good Grief wrote on January 24, 2008 7:04 pm:
" This is hard to believe! One out of two college graduates leave the state! "

 whatever wrote on January 25, 2008 5:12 am:
" With as many youths in the the criminal justice system this award seems a bit out of touch. "

 HAHA wrote on January 25, 2008 8:28 am:
" WOW! Something positive happens to Lincoln...and people still have something to be negative about...TYPICAL! As a young person, I may eventually move out of state...I do however want to raise my children here. "

 Highly doubt this one wrote on January 25, 2008 9:07 am:
" Ok when this evaluation was done, what part of the city were they in who did the evaluation? The reason i ask is because the less privledged kids lives in one part of the city, and the privledged kids lives in another. Yes there is the youth center over on F street, but you ever notice how the crime rate is in that area? And i agree that it is 1 out of every 2 college grads dont even stay in the state! I graduated from a college in Nebraska, and left because i could not find a job. I think this whole evaluation should be redone. Then see where we rank "

 for the cynics wrote on January 25, 2008 9:44 am:
" For all you pessimists, lets try thinking on all sides, though yes many fall through the cracks in our town, and their are what seems to be a large number of children in our criminal justice system, compare to the other cities, our numbers are pretty low. NO CITY IS PERFECT. For the 300 entries that did apply, they are the top 300 that believed they could make it, the other cities did not apply because they were sure they were not going to make it far. And finally for the comment about one out of two graduates leave state,that makes no sense. This is about youth, not college students, and the fact that youth here graduate and move to another state to follow successful careers, only proves that Lincoln is a great community to raise our children. Be Proud that you Live in a community that is now distinguished for something good. "

 malcom wrote on January 25, 2008 10:03 am:
"
What are you doing to help this community?
The people who pulled this application did so in order to put Lincoln on a path to bring resources to our community to help youth. I thank them for their efforts.
What will you do to help the youth of lincoln - or the elderly or gay or minorities all the other specific populations who deserve our support? "

 Not over 60 wrote on January 25, 2008 10:03 am:
" Why don't all the elderly crybabies pack-up and move to AZ or FL instead of whining about anything progressive we try to get done in Lincoln. You didn't "build" this city, everyone plays a role. BYW, I don't owe you anything. "

 DP wrote on January 25, 2008 11:52 am:
" Even when Lincoln has positive news you people on this board complain about it. It must really stink leaving in your negative life. I doubt any city would be good enough for you. Grow up and appreciate what you have! "

 Benadictine wrote on January 25, 2008 12:50 pm:
" Parents with low income or on welfare, forget it.
Your kid wasn't born with a silver spoon in their mouth or given all the advantages of the upper middle and upper class kids, so it's simple, your out to lunch. "

 25 yr old that use to live in Lincoln wrote on January 25, 2008 3:03 pm:
" Wow, Lincoln is only eligible to apply for the money. If they get it, maybe they should invest it into bringing respectable companies to Lincoln to help keep the youth in Lincoln. It seems that most youth leave because the jobs that are available are insufficient in financial support for the community. Since I was unable to find a job in Lincoln, I now am working in Omaha. It just goes to prove that the Job market in Lincoln isn't growing in the right direction. My friends all left for the same reason. In fact almost all of my friends no longer live in Lincoln. So, I ask, why is Lincoln so good for the youth. "

 James wrote on January 25, 2008 3:48 pm:
" Read the story people! It's not about Lincoln's job market, it's about great places to raise kids. Stop complaining about the job market. That's not what the story is about! "

 Gladly pay taxes wrote on January 25, 2008 4:37 pm:
" It's a good place to raise children, just not adults. That's why someone would rather have a few more bucks to spend on plastic Chinese junk at Wal-mart than pay taxes to have programs for the poor, parks, and other things that make a city nice to live in. Escape them while you can. "

 Jong wrote on January 25, 2008 10:57 pm:
" I was born and raised in Lincoln.I can tell you first hand that Lincoln turn out some handsome,classy and well adjusted individuals who are profoundly accurate and correct with everything they touch or say. "

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