As you drive along Danville streets, you soon will see updated signage being installed at strategic points in the median and along shoulder right-of-ways to mark the City of Danville’s new status as a three-time All-America City Award winner.
The latest honor was received on June 9, when Danville was among 10 cities nationwide receiving the All-America City designation from the National Civic League for having the most innovative and effective community engagement practices.
Danville and the other nine cities were chosen by a jury of nationally recognized civic leaders, which reviewed written entries and observed final presentations by teams from each city that traveled to Denver to compete in the 75th annual All-America City Award event.
For Danville’s winning entry, one juror wrote, “With a steadfast commitment to holistic community building, Danville shines through its initiatives, fostering student engagement, nurturing police-resident partnerships, and enriching its parks for everyone’s delight. Together, they’re sculpting a brighter tomorrow for each and every resident! Let’s applaud their dedication to Community Development and inclusive progress!”
Mayor Alonzo Jones called the prestigious 2024 All-America City designation an honor, saying, “Our city is undergoing a remarkable transformation, and we are committed to ensuring that every citizen has a voice in shaping our future. This award is a testament to the collaborative spirit that propels us forward.”
City Manager Ken Larking agreed, saying, “Danville is in a time of change. As we move forward with trying to implement that change in a way that is as positive for us as it can be, engaging the community is extremely important.”
For 2024, communities were invited to showcase their work specifically on strengthening local democracy by building the capacity of residents to actively participate in civic life and have a meaningful say in decisions.
This year’s competition was the first entry submitted by the City of Danville since it was selected as an All-America City in 2020. Danville was also named an All-America City in 1977.
In this year’s entry, the City of Danville highlighted its efforts to develop a new comprehensive plan — PLANDanville — using a process unlike any employed in the past. The process included a series of community events, workshops conducted in a storefront space secured for PLANDanville, and direct outreach into neighborhoods by a team of six community ambassadors — local individuals who had the trust and respect of other community members. In addition, PLANDanville made a sincere, sustained effort to engage schoolchildren in the planning effort, encouraging them to develop a sense of pride and ownership in their city and its future.
The All-America City application also highlighted the Police Department’s nearly 40 community engagement programs, the Parks and Recreation Department’s “Heart The Park” campaign, and the Danville School Board’s engagement of youths by adding four student representatives to the board.
For those efforts, Danville was named in March as one of the finalists for the awards.
A team of Danville representatives traveled to Denver on June 7-9 to make a final presentation to the jury.
In addition to Danville, nine other cities received the All-America City designation for 2024: Edinburg, TX; High Point, NC; La Marque, TX; Lexington, KY; Monrovia, CA; Newport News, VA; Roanoke, VA; Seattle, WA; and Watkinsville, GA.
For more information about Danville’s entry, visit www.danvilleva.gov/AAC.
For more information on the National Civic League, visit https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/.