Nacogdoches is one of best communities for young people in USA

America's Promise Alliance (the Alliance), the nation's largest alliance dedicated to children and youth, in partnership with Capital One, today announced that Nacogdoches County has been named a winner of its 2008 100 Best Communities for Young People (100 Best) competition. The 100 Best competition 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 this year. The 100 winning communities span 37 states.

Nacogdoches County was selected as one of the 100 Best because of the community's multiple efforts to help its young people succeed and the way the county has involved youth in its decision making. A prime example of this is the County Youth Board. This board helps county extension agents determine what programs should be implemented from year to year, reviewing the educational impacts of programs, determining how to reach new youth audiences, and helping decide whether task forces or coalitions are needed to address priority issues. The community is equally committed to ensuring its youth learn about the community while discovering different career options. The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce's Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Crew takes eighth-graders on once-a-month full-day field trips into the community to learn about health care, higher education, manufacturing, natural resources, military and other career paths. The City of Nacogdoches Parks and Recreation Department provides staffing and coordination of the LOT program.

"Former Mayor Bob Dunn and I first looked at the program in 2006," Chamber President/CEO Bruce R. Partain said. "We decided it would take several months to complete the application process, and we needed a strong volunteer to head the effort. We tapped Candyce Wagnon, who was serving as the chamber's co-chair of the SFA-Chamber Connection, and was involved in several other youth-oriented service organizations, especially Kiwanis, where she is now president-elect." Full story


Partners involved in Nacogdoches County's successful application to become one of 100 Best Communities for Young People celebrate recently.
From left are Mayor Roger Van Horn, Chamber Chair Kim Luna Snyder, County Judge Joe English, Former Mayor Bob Dunn and volunteer Candyce Wagnon.
(Photo: Bruce R. Partain)