Even though it has been over a month since the City of Somerville was chosen as All-America City by the National Civic League, many here are still basking in the afterglow of victory.

We especially take pride in the magnificent job our delegation to the competition did in representing us, while ultimately bringing home the award and the special sense of accomplishment it stands for.

At the core of this team there stood a special group of individuals who gave fully of themselves and won over the hearts and minds of those who judged the competition. That group was the team of talented and thoughtful kids from The Center for Teen Empowerment.

This great youth organizing and social change program has sites in Somerville, Roxbury, and Dorchester, MA, and in Rochester, NY. At each site, Teen Empowerment hires a group of youth, ages 14-21, and trains them as community organizers, providing them with the support, resources, and ongoing training they need to organize initiatives that involve both youth and adults in addressing community issues.

Members of this organization went to Denver for us to demonstrate what a great city Somerville is.

Check out this video to see this great group of kids working together to represent our city and its people in the best way possible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhYceO3Gvbs.

We think you will agree. These wonderful young people deserve our heartfelt gratitude and wholehearted respect. Thank you, one and all.