Inglewood Wins "Oscar"
City earns All-America City Award
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The city of Inglewood has been named California's only 2009 All-America City -- an award that's been compared to the civic Oscars.
The city of Inglewood is one of 10 cities to win the National Civic League's 2009 All-America City Award.
The 60-year old awards program recognizes neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties and metro regions for outstanding civic accomplishments, according to the NCL.
Winners must demonstrate their "ability to address serious challenges with innovative, grassroots strategies that promote civic engagement and cooperation between the public, private and nonprofit sectors," according to the NCL.
"The All-America City Award is like a civic 'Oscar' for communities of all sizes," said NCL President Gloria Rubio-Cortes. "It's unique because it recognizes the efforts of entire communities. AACs demonstrate inclusiveness, collaboration, civic engagement, and innovation."
About 800 civic leaders and community activists from across the country met in Tampa for the three-day awards competition. Each finalist delegation had to make a presentation to a jury of civic experts from the public, private and nonprofit sectors listing three outstanding examples of collaborative, community problem solving.
"While hundreds of cities have developed magnificent buildings, community programs and public space, it's unlikely that many will encounter a city that has successfully triumphed and overcome greater challenges than has the city of Inglewood," Mayor Roosevelt Dorn told the Daily Breeze:
Winners of the All-America City Award:
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Inglewood, California
- Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Richmond, Indiana
- Wichita, Kansas
- Somerville, Massachusetts
- Albany, New York
- Kinston, North Carolina
- Statesville, North Carolina
- Caroline County, Virginia
