America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance), the nation’s largest alliance dedicated to children and youth, in partnership with Capital One, announced that Fall River has been named a winner of its 2008 100 Best Communities for Young People (100 Best) competition. The 100 Best is an annual competition which recognizes the 100 outstanding communities across America—large and small, rural and urban—that are the best places for young people to live and grow up. More than 300 communities in all 50 states applied for the honor. The 100 winning communities span 38 states and Fall River was one of seven Massachusetts winners this year. Mayor Robert Correia and members of Team F.R.E.S.H. made the announcement on January 24, 2008, at the B.M.C. Durfee High School Library. "Children are our future and we have as much to learn from them as they do from us. It is our responsibility to empower them now so they will be actively engaged in their community as adults,” Mayor Robert Correia stated today at the press conference. 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) Mayor Correia jokes with FRESH team members Catherine Cabral and Isaiah Darby before the press event. (Top row, center) Catherine Cabral, CFC Family Planning Director Lynda Sampson, SSTAR Youth director Mike Aguiar, Isaiah Darby and Fall River Housing Authority Youth director Joey DaSilva stand react to Mayor Correia's remarks. (Top row, right) CD-REC Program Director Jamison Souza describes the work that the FRESH youth did over the year as Fall River Youth Coordinator Christian McCloskey listens. (Middle row, left) Fall River School Superintendent Nicholas Fischer points to young people as the future of Fall River. (Middle row, right) Jamison Souza responds to remarks made by Christian McCloskey. (Bottom row, left) Juliette Miller comments on the work of the FRESH team. (Bottom row, center) Mayor Correia accepts a red wagon from Isaiah Darby and  Catherine Cabral. (Bottom row, right) Juliette, Catherine and Ryan Frazer are interviewed by Channel 10 news reporter Leslie Yeransian.