Want to find out how to raise $1.2 million to build a baseball field for children with special needs? Ask the city of Acworth, Georgia. Community leaders, local businesses and state and local government united to raise the money and to make the field happen.
A drive to collect socks for the homeless children in Rancho Cordova, California, led to a permanent program to provide socks, shoes and underwear for homeless students.
Both of these success stories were possible only by communities coming together and residents being engaged in the efforts to work through the problems.
This country is full of similar success stories, large and small. However, it is rare that cities are recognized for their success. More often they are seen through their problems.
That is why we need civic recognition awards, such as the All-America City Awards, which is the oldest civic recognition award in the country. The award is given to ten communities each year by the National Civic League. The award recognizes success stories in communities, just like the ones in Acworth, Georgia or Rancho Cordova, California.
This year, the three-day final event took place in Kansas City, Missouri, and both Acworth and Rancho Cordova were named as the All-America City 2010, along with eight other cities.
This is what the participants told me when I asked them why they came to compete with 24 other finalists:
"I'm proud of my city. We made the change happen by collaboration. I want to share that story with everyone."
"My town used to be the armpit of the state. It is not anymore - it has turned into a pleasant place to live. It is an excellent example of change done together in community."
"Our youth leadership program has really changed lives of many kids. I want to share our experience with others so that they don't have to reinvent the wheel."
After hearing these answers and getting an inkling of the large amount of civic knowledge that exists in communities, I have only one question: How can we share this knowledge and link people with questions to those who have answers, in the most efficient way?
Would this be the time for a civic knowledge network, which functions both on a virtual space, and through real-world events? Interested, anybody?
More about the All-America City Awards here.
Follow Tanja Aitamurto on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TanjaAita
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