Members of Team F.R.E.S.H. and the Healthy Youth Task Force were invited to Washington, D.C. to join hundreds of other youth from the America’s Promise Alliance who live in the 100 Best Communities for Young People on September 22nd and 23rd, 2008. The National Forum and Celebration was held at the JW Marriott hotel in Washington D.C. Fall River was selected as a "Best Community" last year after submitting documentation showing that the city meets the America's Promise criteria. During the conference, youth heard an address by General (Ret.) Colin Powell, attended networking sessions and workshops on a variety of youth-related topics. A major theme of the conference was drop-out prevention.  The The trip also gave the youth a chance to visit the nation's capital, including stops at the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial as well as a chance to hear a musical performance by the Howard University Choir. The trip was capped by a visit with Congressman James McGovern at his office in the Cannon House Office Building. Click here for the Herald News article describing the trip. Click here for an announcement about  Lillian Phuong's appointment to the Governor's Council. Click here for photos of Mayor Correia and Team F.R.E.S.H. announcing the receipt of their Hundred Best award in January, 2008. For more information, contact Christian McCloskey at 508-324-2419. (Photos courtesy of Christian McCloskey & Jamison Souza)

(Top row, left) CD-REC program director and Healthy Youth Task Force co-chair Jamison Souza pauses with Mei Yu Fang at the entrance to the conference. (Top row, center) Fall River is listed along with six other communities in Massachusetts to attend the event. (Top row, right) Lillian Phuong and Mei Yu Fang stop in front of the White House on their tour of Washington, D.C. (Middle row, left) America's Promise intern Ine Ogagan enjoys a stop at the Lincoln Memorial with Lillian, Mei Yu, and Fall River Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey. (Middle row, right) General (Ret.) Colin Powell, Founding Chair of the America's Promise Alliance, addresses the young people during the conference. (Bottom row, left) Christian McCloskey, Lillian Phuong, Jamison Souza, Mei Yu Fang, and Ine Ogagan pose for a photo at the conference. (Bottom row, center) The entertainment included a performance by the Howard University Choir. (Bottom row, right) The group ended their tour with a visit to the office of Congressman James McGovern in the Cannon Office Building.