Stockton-San Joaquin County has been named a 2017 All-America City Award finalist, one of just 27 communities across the country vying for the honor created by the National Civic League nearly 70 years ago to recognize civic action, community problem-solving and progress in advancing early literacy. Stockton has won the award three times before in 1999, 2004 and 2015.
Advancing early literacy is a key initiative of University of the Pacifics Beyond Our Gates program in which the city of Stockton and community partners work to improve literacy and college readiness among schoolchildren in San Joaquin County through such efforts as Reading by Third, The Tomorrow Project and the Beyond Our Gates Community Council.
The work we do to improve literacy and college preparedness is essential to the future of Stockton and San Joaquin County, said Pacific President Pamela A. Eibeck. Were proud and honored that this work has been recognized and it drives us to do even more.
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a collaborative effort by philanthropists, nonprofits, businesses, government agencies and others to ensure that children from low-income families succeed in school and are prepared for college, this year joined with the National Civic League to recognize communities that have made measurable progress in key drivers of early reading success school readiness, school attendance, summer learning and grade-level reading.
Its incredible that Stockton is once again in the running to be named an All-America City, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs said. This is a tribute to our rich diversity, our resiliency as a city and our commitment to community. We look forward to heading to Denver in the coming weeks to make our case as to why Stockton should be an All-America City.
As in years past, the presentation by Stocktons delegation will highlight the energy and vibrancy of the city. The mayor will be on hand to participate in the presentation. The city will use some elements from its past performance that proved successful in the All-America City competition.
Recognizing these communities as All-America Cities is our way of applauding the civic leaders, nonprofit organizations and agencies, and corporations that have joined forces to build brighter futures for the children in their communities, said Ralph Smith, managing director of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. We are proud of these communities for answering the call and going above and beyond to ensure more hopeful futures for our nations most vulnerable children.
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading will host Grade-Level Reading Week, June 13-16, in Denver, Colorado, during which agencies that financially support early literacy will gather to network, share challenges and successes, and learn how to drive better results. The 2017 All-America City recipients will be announced during the second half of the week. Stockton has won the All-America City Award three times 1999, 2004 and 2015.
Earlier in the Grade-Level Reading Week, the Campaign for Grade-Level Readings Community Solutions Pacesetter winners will receive their awards. The group in March named Stockton-San Joaquin County a recipient for being a leader in solving one or more of the challenges to early literacy, including school readiness, school attendance and summer learning. Stockton-San Joaquin also won the Pacesetter award in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.