Old Town lauded for youth work

OLD TOWN – The numerous programs available to youth, in addition to the sense of community that Greater Old Town offers, were responsible for the city being named one of the top 100 communities for youth in the nation.

A celebration was held Wednesday at the Old Town Elementary School to mark the event, which was attended by city and state officials, as well as several area youth.

“This has been an active community that’s been getting involved in the education and lives of children,” Gov. John Baldacci, who attended the event, said. “It’s a wonderful honor.”

The River Coalition applied to the America’s Promise Alliance for Youth to recognize the efforts that individuals, schools, town officials, businesses, and organizations have taken to make the community a safe and healthy place for children.

Prekindergarten literacy programs, after school activities, cultural experience programs, mentoring programs, tutoring, a juvenile delinquency diversion program and the Underage Drinking Task Force are just a few of the examples listed by the River Coalition of how Old Town and its surrounding communities are collaborating to benefit the area’s youth.

The Old Town-Orono YMCA and the Old Town Public Library also were mentioned several times as organizations that play an important role in the lives of area youth.

“There’s something for everyone,” Hannah Morin, a Leonard Middle School pupil, said.

The River Coalition is a nonprofit organization that focuses on children and their families in the river communities of Alton, Bradley, Greenbush, Milford and Old Town. It also collaborates with the Penobscot Indian Nation to help serve the Indian Island community.

“The River Coalition is only a part of why the greater Old Town area is one of the best 100 communities for young people,” Michael Crooker, Coalition executive director, said.

Area youth from the elementary, middle and high schools were on hand to share why they “like being a kid in Old Town.”

“One important detail that makes Old Town special is the fact that we’re a community that comes together to celebrate happy moments, and we also come together in times of need,” Kendra Hayward, an Old Town Elementary School pupil, said.

This was the first time America’s Promise Alliance, in partnership with Capital One Financial Corp., has held the national competition. Old Town was one of more than 700 communities that applied nationwide.

Waterville was the only other Maine town that applied, and that city also was selected for the top 100 list. A complete list of winners can be found at www.americaspromise.org.

Winners were chosen by a panel of civic, business and nonprofit leaders, including United Way of America President Brian Gallagher, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, baseball great Cal Ripken Jr. and former Denver mayor Wellington Webb.

The panel evaluated entries that required detailed information about each community’s efforts to fulfill five promises critical to the well-being of young people.

Baldacci listed those promises during Wednesday’s ceremony, and noted that the Old Town area possesses them all:

. Caring adults who are actively involved in their lives.

. Safe places in which to learn and grow.

. A healthy start toward adulthood.

. An effective education that builds marketable skills.

. And opportunities to help others.

“This community wouldn’t be what it is without the dedication and commitment of the entire community,” Baldacci said.