Newport News Named All-America City by National Civic League

For the first time, Newport News, Virginia is being recognized as one of ten All-America City Award winners. The National Civic League presented this honor to celebrate the city's work to actively engage residents in strengthening democracy through local action and innovation.

"This is an historic day in the City of Newport News, as the prestigious All-America City Award celebrates our innovative programs and dynamic residents, community leaders, businesses, nonprofits, and employees," said Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones. "Newport News has been on the vanguard of history for generations, and we continue to set the standard for how a community can and should leverage innovation to enhance civic capital. This award is a testament to our programs, which are building forward to impact today and future generations."

"We are happy to designate Newport News as an All-America City," said Doug Linkhart, President of the National Civic League. "Through their application and presentation, they showed that they are among the best in America at collaborating with residents and diverse stakeholders to tackle local challenges and seize opportunities. They remind us that the foundations of our democracy are strengthened through both individual and collective action."

Earlier this year, communities from across the country submitted written applications showcasing their efforts to strengthen democracy, and the field was narrowed to twenty finalists. The finalist communities traveled to Denver, Colorado, where they connected and shared insights with peers, learned from national thought leaders, and presented their work to a jury of nationally recognized civic leaders. After careful deliberation, the jury selected ten winning communities, including Newport News.

"During the presentation, I told the jury that dreams are realized in Newport News," said Jones. "It was a dream of mine to bring this award to my hometown, and I am humbled and thrilled that Newport News is receiving this honor the first time we applied. I appreciate the contributions of our diverse delegation who spoke passionately about our transformative projects and their commitment to strengthening our community. I look forward to celebrating this achievement and continuing to share the story of Newport News across the nation."

The jury cited that Newport News is tackling national issues at the grassroots level by prioritizing resident engagement in problem-solving. The city submitted three programs for consideration, including the:

• Gun Violence Intervention Program, which works with community organizations to interrupt cycles of violence among individuals at the highest risk for committing crimes or being victims of gun violence while addressing the root causes of violence.
• Youth Diversion/Youth Court, an innovative initiative to help teens with minor offenses actively take responsibility for their actions and be sentenced by their peers. This program was the first of its kind in the Commonwealth, with the city working with the legislature to change State Code.
• Community Assistance and Response (CARE) program, which offers individuals experiencing a mental health crisis hope instead of handcuffs.

The mission of the National Civic League is to advance civic engagement to create equitable, thriving communities. Founded in 1894, the League is America's oldest good governance organization, championing many of the democracy innovations of the early 20th Century. Today, the League maintains the Model City Charter, organizes the All-America City Award, publishes the National Civic Review, and supports an extensive national network of local elected, appointed, and civic leaders. The League's Center for Democracy Innovation works with public officials in the U.S. to understand, test, and disseminate the next generation of civic innovations, which have the potential to make democracy more participatory, equitable, and productive.

Learn more about the National Civic League's All-America City Award.

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