Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. and members of Team F.R.E.S.H. congratulated members of the Fall River City Council on October 23, 2007, for passing a resolution adopting a new platform, developed and endorsed by the National League of Cities (NLC), that signals its commitment to children, youth, and families, and will serve as a guide for the City’s future efforts on their behalf. The two-part “City Platform for Strengthening Families and Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth,” prepared by NLC’s Council for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Council), urges communities nationwide to create the “essential infrastructure” that will help strengthen families and promote sustained progress over time. Fall River is committed to fulfilling America's Promise to mobilize people from every sector of American life in order to build the character and competence of our nation's youth by fulfilling Five Promises: 1) Provide ongoing relationships with caring adults; 2) supply safe places with structured activities during non-school hours: 3) Provide for a healthy start and future; 4) Offer marketable skills through effective education; and 5) Present opportunities to give back through community service. Click here for the Herald News article about the event. Click here for photos of Team F.R.E.S.H. appearing before the City Council in June, 2007. For more information, contact Christian McCloskey at 508-324-2419.
 

(Top row, left) Fall River Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey makes some final changes to his presentation script as Isaiah Darby, Kristina Marchand, Tina Marchand, Heather Grothe and Tatiyana Smith look on. (Top row, center) Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. congratulates the students for their work on the Platform on Strengthening Families and Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth as Heather Grothe, Ryan Frazer, Tatiyana Smith, Justin Matton and Tina Marchand listen. (Top row, right) Ryan Frazer urges the City to "kick it up a notch" for supports for young people as Catherine Cabral and Heather Grothe listen. (Middle row, left) Catherine Cabral gets some coaching from Healthy Youth Task Force co-chair Jamison Souza. (Middle row, center) Jessica Garcia talks about community service in the City Council chamber, one of the five America's Promises, as Team F.R.E.S.H. members listen. (Middle row, right) Catherine Cabral speaks at the press conference about a unified action plan for City youth as America's Promise Fellow Ine Ogagan, Mr. McCloskey, Ryan Frazer, Heather Grothe and Tatiyana Smith listen. (Bottom row, left) Juliette Miller introduces Team F.R.E.S.H. members Justin Matton, Catherine Cabral, Nichaolas Farias, Jennifer Benjamin, Alex Madison-McCloskey, Jessica Garcia and Sarah Madison-McCloskey (back to camera) to members of the City Council. (Bottom row, center) Ryan Frazer describes the City Platform to Councilors Joe Camara, Pat Casey and Ray Hague. (Bottom row, right) Tina Marchand gives the City Councilors Tom Kozak and Leo Pelletier posters from the contest that the Healthy Youth Task Force and Team F.R.E.S.H. sponsored in June, 2007.