Toledo Ranked Among Best Cities For Young People



Toledo Ranked Among Best Cities For Young People

Northwest

Jan 25 2008 7:41AM

TOLEDO, Ohio - America's Promise Alliance released the 100 best communities for young people, and Toledo has made the list.

"It's time we stop complaining about this wonderful community of ours," said Mayor Carty Finkbeiner in a speech at International Park.

Before an audience of kids and educators, Finkbeiner cheered on his city asking those who live here to do the same.

"There's just so much going on," said Traci Jadlos of United Way.  " And our young people are really engaged in this community. One of the things we put in our application is how many hours the kids do volunteering in the community."

An example of that spirit can be seen with Trilby Elementary's reading buddies programs.

"It enables the primary students not to be afraid of intermediate students because they have a buddy in the intermediate buddy they connect with twice a week," said Linda Culp. 

It's not just the kids that are working together. So are school systems and community organizations. Washington Local and Toledo Public have recently opened their doors to community organizations to form youth programs. That's why, for the second year in a row, the city is getting some national recognition.

"I think that is absolutely phenomenal for our community to have this honor and privilege," said Assistant superintendent of Washington Local Schools Cherie Mourlam.  

Community leaders hope that this community support will mean today's youth will stay and become tomorrow's leaders.

"It's developed me as a strong person, and I feel that I can handle challenges that really come into my life because my community can handle it," explained Laqueenia Gibson of Youth United Way.

The Findlay-Hancock County area was the only other area in Ohio ranked on the America's Promise Alliance released the 100 best communities for young people.

For more information, check out America's Promise Alliance.

Copyright 2008 by WTOL-TV and the Ohio News Network.

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