For a sixth year, Lexington has been named one of the 100 best places in the country for young people by America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, according to a press release.
Lexington Mayor Jim Gray will be on hand Friday at the Spotlight Youth celebration – a showcase of Lexington's youth through dance, spoken work, singing, drumming and more – to receive an award, called 100 Best Communities for Young People presented by ING, from America's Promise Alliance.
The Spotlight program begins at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center (300 E. Third St.) The program is free and open to the public.
Lexington received the award for its “outstanding and innovative work in addressing the high school dropout crisis and for its programs and services that make it an outstanding place for youth to live, learn and grow,” according to America’s Promise. Lexington was also recognized for its continued expansion of educational, diversity, health and safety programming for youth.
Gray said the Spotlight celebration is an example of the new programming Lexington is offering. Spotlight will showcase the talents of young people involved in the Partners for Youth “I Do” initiative, which grew out of recommendations from the Commission on Youth Development and Public Safety. Its goal is to bring safe, recreational and enriching activities to Lexington’s youth through a collaboration of local businesses, community volunteers and the city.
For making the 100 best list, Lexington received a $2,500 grant, signage identifying the community as one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People, and access to America’s Promise Alliance’s community development resources.