America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance), the nation’s largest alliance dedicated to children and youth, in partnership with the ING foundation, announced that Fall River has, for the second time, been named a winner of its  100 Best Communities for Young People (100 Best) competition. The 100 Best is an annual competition which recognizes the 100 outstanding communities across America—large and small, rural and urban—that are the best places for young people to live and grow up. More than 300 communities in all 50 states applied for the honor. The 100 winning communities span 39 states and Fall River was one of six Massachusetts winners this year. The award was announced over a nationwide web hook-up in front of about 100 students at the B.M.C. Durfee High School Nagle Auditorium. Click here for the Herald News article about the event. Click here for the video. Click here for photos of the 2008 award. For more information, contact Christian McCloskey at 508-324-2419.
 

(Top row) CD-REC Program Director Jamison Souza is congratulated by School Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown, Durfee High School Principal Paul Marshall before he waits with Mayor Flanagan, Youth Services Director Christian McCloskey and school committee member Richard Pavao. (Second row) Channel 6 reporter John Guice interviews PLOT project coordinator Annemarie Sharkey about the award as Christian awaits news of the award before uncovering the banner and going up on stage. (Row three) Jamison Souza and Mayor William Flanagan address the students following the announcement. (Bottom row) Durfee Trade Winds culinary arts students serve a healthy meal to the dozens of students who attended the gathering while Brittany Nardi is interviewed by Channel 6.