Somerville makes national honor roll as kid-friendly city

By Elizabeth Sheeran

It’s official. Somerville is a great place to be a kid. And kids of all ages are invited to cap off school vacation week at the second annual “Celebrate Somerville” event, this Saturday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. at Somerville High School.

Somerville for the fourth straight year has been chosen as one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People, by the America’s Promise Alliance, a non-partisan organization whose goal is ensuring all American kids graduate from high school ready for college, work and life. And this Saturday’s festivities are a chance to celebrate that honor and to connect kids and their parents with all the resources Somerville has to offer young people.

“It’s really an opportunity for all the organizations in the community that we collaborate with regularly to showcase our commitment to youth and their families,” said Deputy Communications Director Jackie Rossetti. “It’s an opportunity for parents and kids to learn about all the activities and resources that they may not know about.”

The event will bring together more than 50 local agencies and organizations that serve young people in Somerville, with lots of interactive, fun things for kids to do and a wealth of information for parents. Participatory activities will include zumba, soccer and kids’ yoga. There will be boxing, hip hop dance, and a host of talented youth performers. Raffles. Prizes. And maybe even a visit by a local celebrity or two.

Hundreds of people turned out to “Celebrate Somerville” last year, and organizers have said this year is expected to be bigger and better. The entire event is free to the public, and funded with part of the private grant awarded by the America’s Promise Alliance to the 100 communities who make the cut each year.

Somerville has held its own among the hundreds of communities vying for a spot on the list, and not just because kids here are doing well. In 2011, Somerville cut its high school dropout rate by two full percentage points over the course of a single year.

The city also succeeds in getting different parts of the community to work together for the benefit of kids, said Jordan LaPier, a senior director at the Alliance, which was founded by General Colin Powell in 1997 with the support of Presidents Clinton, Bush, Carter and Ford, and Nancy Reagan.

“What we are looking for is communities that are committed to giving kids the critical supports that we think all kids need to be successful,” said LaPier, listing the five “promises” established by the Alliance: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others.

“This isn’t about the communities who spent the most money or who have the most resources, but the ones who demonstrate the most commitment to giving kids what they need to succeed,” said LaPier.

School Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi said the honor was “a testament to the collective commitment we all have to the youth in our wonderful city. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate this achievement with an event that honors every member of our community who plays a role in making Somerville a great place to live, work, learn in our public schools, and raise a family.”

But Pierantozzi also acknowledged that job isn’t done yet. “Working collaboratively with our community partners, we will continue to focus on helping kids maximize their potential,” he said.

Celebrate Somerville will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 25, in the atrium and gymnasium at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue. For more information, visit http://www.somervillema.gov/.