The National Civic League’s 2014 All-America City Awards

1. The National Civic League’s 2014 All-America City Awards

2. Agenda • Who is NCL and what is AAC? • Why apply? The benefits of AAC • What people are saying about AAC • Keeping costs low! • Completing the Application • Keys to Success • Additional Support Materials • Questions

3. National Civic League The National Civic League (NCL) is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to strengthen democracy by increasing the capacity of our nation’s people to fully participate in and build healthy and prosperous communities across America. • Government and Governance • Civic Engagement • Civic Recognition Awards

4. The 2014 All-America City Award Recognizing Community Achievement for 65 Years (1949 – 2014) Spotlight on Healthy Communities

5. Does Your Community Have What it Takes? The All-America City Award recognizes exemplary grassroots community problem-solving and is given to communities that cooperatively tackle challenges and achieve results. A community that teaches the rest of us how to face difficult situations and to meet those challenges in innovative and collaborative ways can become an All-America City.

6. Why Apply?The Benefits of Being an All-America City

7. Economic Benefits Individuals and businesses looking to relocate seek out AAC Winners and Finalists, recognizing that they are good places in which to live and work.

8. Economic Benefits - cont. • *Tourism *New Business • *Grants *New Residents • Examples: Dubuque, Iowa & Carrollton, Missouri

9. Community Pride The Award reinvigorates a community's sense of civic pride. People are proud to live in an All-America City and they work hard to live up to the name.

10. Community Collaboration The application process itself presents a unique opportunity for communities to identify their assets, challenges, and foster new community partnerships that last for years beyond the AAC event.

11. Additional Benefits • National opportunity to tell your community’s story! • You become part of a national exchange network to share best practices before, during, and after the AAC event in Denver in June.

12. What People Are Saying About AAC “All-America City was truly the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my professional life. I honestly believe, I feel it in my heart, that I left a different person from the person that arrived…carrying a fire back to my community…to bring people together civilly, civically, humbly.” Miguel S. Seco, Governmental Affairs Manager, City of North Miami

13. What People Are Saying About AAC “We were told that this would be life changing - and it IS! I have a renewed sense of urgency as I return to my work in addressing challenges in our community … that involves the community, includes diversity, etc. etc. I understand why individuals and communities come back to the competition again and again.” “This was an experience of a life time. I would highly recommend this to any city in America. What a way to learn how to serve, celebrate those who do serve, and want to own a piece of their community.” 2013 participants

14. Keeping Costs Low! • Application fee: $200 (Save $100 on your application fee when you submit a Letter of Intent to Apply by November 15, 2013!) • Registration fees at AAC competition: $100 per person - includes everything: jury presentations, workshops and 3 receptions - average delegation size: 26 • Travel costs: transportation, hotel ($169 +taxes), meals, etc. (Note: AAC 2014 will be held in Denver, CO – a great family vacation destination!)

15. Applying for the All-America City Award

16. Deadlines • September 2013-February 2014: Monthly conference calls • November 15, 2013: Submit Letter of Intent to Apply (Save $100 on your application fee when you submit a Letter of Intent to Apply by November 15, 2013!) • March 18, 2014: Submit Application • April 2014: Finalists Announced. Finalist community delegations will be invited to Denver to present. • June 2014: Peer-Learning Workshops & Awards Presentation/Competition in Denver, Colorado

17. AAC Criteria • Civic Engagement and Collaboration: participation of the public, private and nonprofit sectors and key constituencies to the maximum extent possible and cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries • Diversity/Inclusiveness: recognition and involvement of diverse segments and perspectives (ethnic, racial, socio-economic, age, etc.) in community decision-making

18. AAC Criteria Continued… • Innovation: creative use and leveraging of community resources • Impact: significant and specific community achievements, projects that address the community’s most important needs, and clear demonstration of project results and impacts (dollars raised or lives impacted)

19. AAC Criteria Continued… • Three projects which have improved the community significantly within the last five years, and have potential to continue improving the quality of life • At least one project should present a healthy communities initiative.

20. The Selection Process • Application submitted by March 18, 2014: (electronic and one printed copy) • Twenty finalists announced in April 2014: invited to Denver to present to national jury. • Ten winners chosen based on application and presentation at the conclusion of June 2014 Peer-Learning Workshops & Awards Presentation/Competition in Denver, Colorado

21. The Application

22. The Major Components of the Application • Community & contact information • Your community’s story and challenges • Three locally-driven projects

23. Community Information • Community Name - what do you wish to be called? • Community Application Designation - neighborhood, town, city, county, or region?

24. Community Information - cont. • Contact Information - who is your primary contact for on-going communication? • Community Statistics - the facts that help describe your community • State Map – showing the location of your community (simple, 8.5”x11”)

25. Part I: Tell your community’s story This section is an opportunity for your community to demonstrate how you have engaged in the process of becoming a strong, healthy and vibrant community!

26. Tell us your story, continued… • How does your community address its challenges? • How does your community plan for the future? What is your community’s vision? • How are the neighborhoods, government, businesses, and nonprofits organizations engaged in these efforts? Show us how the different sectors of your population are working together to make your community great! • How does your community recognize and celebrate its diversity and demonstrate inclusiveness?

27. Part II: Community-Driven Projects • Describe three recent community-driven projects that have significantly improved the community in the last five years • Project 1 & Project 2 should address your community’s most critical challenges. • Project 3 - may address healthy community challenges. Some examples are: health access, anti-obesity, job access, early childhood education/health, liveable and walkable neighborhoods, regional transportation, health promotion, disease prevention, among others.

28. Helpful Hints re: Projects • Provide a measurable result and demonstrate improvement in the lives of those affected • Diversity - inclusive, citizen-driven initiatives will prevail over projects implemented by a single organization • Do not try to include too many projects!

29. AAC Keys to Success • Remember the criteria • Don’t forget the power of a good story • Start fundraising now! • Use the resources available to you

30. Application and Resources • Full application is available by visiting our web site at www.ncl.org or by emailing aac@ncl.org • NCL Staff • AAC Blog: www.allamericacityaward.com • NCL’s Civic Index • Connect with an AAC mentor

31. Questions?

32. More Questions? Call Gloria Rubio-Cortes at NCL (303) 571-4343 or gloriarc@ncl.org

33. We look forward to receiving your application via email at aac@ncl.org and at our address: National Civic League 1889 York Street Denver, CO 80206 Good luck!