In 1997,  General Colin Powell and five living presidents convened the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in Philadelphia.  Several cities from each US were invited to send ten delegates to the summit to learn about the launch of America’s Promise, and initiative to mobilize communities to better support children and youth by focusing on five key resource strategies:

1. A caring adult tutor, mentor, or coach.
2. Safe places and structured activities in the non-school hours
3. A healthy start for a healthy future
4. A marketable skill through education
5. An opportunity to give back to the community through service 

Spokane was fortunate to be one of the cities chosen to participate.  Our delegates were representative of local government, media, youth services, business, schools, and faith-based organizations.  Upon returning from the summit, the Spokane delegation in partnership with HIP (Health Improvement Partnership – now called Community-Minded Enterprises), staged a local summit to begin mobilizing the community around the Five Promises for young people in our region. Youth attending the local summit were able to help guide adults on how more youth could be supported through the Five Promises. As a result, one of the early projects that emerged was the construction of a skatepark at the Spokane Valley YMCA.  Designed by skateboarders from the East Valley Extension School and with help from their adult allies, these youth were empowered to achieve their goal by teaming up with adults. The students worked hard on their proposal, made presentations to community leaders, and assisted in fundraising.  Through this partnership under the umbrella of Spokane’s Promise Alliance, their dream became a reality.

Today, the Chase Youth Commission serves as the point of contact for America’s Promise and a key player in ensuring that Spokane continues to connect as many youth as possible to the Five Promises. The Youth Commission works with community partners and national partners to create increased public awareness and participation in fulfilling the Five Promises.  In doing so, Spokane has mirrored several of the America’s Promise initiatives at the local level. 

For example, America’s Promise is leading the charge to address our nation’s dropout crisis through Grad Nation.  In Spokane, the Youth Commission, working with local partners such as Whitworth University and Greater Spokane Incorporated , convened a Dropout Prevention Summit in 2009.  Three hundred community leaders, school staff, and youth gathered to analyze the problem in Spokane. Marguerite Kondrake, CEO of America’s Promise was the keynote speaker.  This served as a springboard for action currently undertaken by a number of school districts, community organizations, and coalitions.

Another initative of America’s Promise encourages organizations to deliver their services “where the kids are.”  In other words, to avoid barriers to service such as lack of awareness, money, or transportation, using schools as hubs of service allows children and youth greater access to the opportunities they need during non-school hours.  All over the country, schools are working hand-in-hand with community partners to make this happen through models such as community schools.  Our connection with America’s Promise gives us the chance to learn from these successful practices.

Any place, whether a school, community center, or other place where all Five Promises are provided can be certified as Promise Places.  The Spokane Regional Youth Department is one of several official Promise Places in our area.  Other AP initiatives are Promise Zones, a five-year demonstration project where the selected communities are trying to reach 15,000 students with all Five Promises, and Featured Communities, another demonstration project with some of our nation’s largest cities where massive technical support and resources through America’s Promise partners are being marshalled to bring change to these communities with high dropout rates. 

It is because of Spokane’s commitment to the Five Promises that Spokane County has been named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance FOUR times in a row!