The All-America City Award is America's oldest and most prestigious community recognition award. For over 52 years, the All-America City Award has encouraged and recognized civic excellence, honoring communities of all sizes (cities, towns, counties, neighborhoods and regions) in which citizens, government, businesses and voluntary organizations work together to address critical local issues.

This is the fifth time Wichita has been selected as a finalist since the award program began in 1949. Wichita has been selected as an All-America City three times -- 1961, 1993 and 1999. Since 1949, more than 4000 communities have competed for this honor; more than 500 communities have been selected as "All-America City" winners. Only six communities have been won this award more times than Wichita over the past 50 years.

"I think it is a tremendous celebration of how Wichita unites to address the issues that face us as a community," said Mayor Bob Knight. "To be a finalist for this award, once again, is indeed an honor.  Community excellence is becoming a habit for our City and it is my hope that we receive this national recognition again."

In the submitted application, the City outlined effective community initiatives including the school bond issue, Project Access, the eclipse Teen Center.

"The premise of the Wichita Public Schools landmark bond initiative was community involvement. Our tremendous election victory two short years ago happened because the entire community took part in determining needs and setting priorities for the future of education in Wichita," said Winston Brooks, superintendent, USD 259. "Our community has so much to be proud of, and we look forward to being part of the team that will share Wichita's story in June."

"These communities serve as models for the rest of the country," said Christopher T. Gates, president of the National Civic League. "They are tackling challenges that seem insurmountable and are producing positive and tangible results with ingenuity and collaboration."

The 30 finalists will participate in a final round of the All-America City competition hosted by the greater Kansas City region in Kansas City, Mo., June 13-15. A delegation from each finalist community will present to a 10-member jury their innovative programs and local solutions addressing a wide range of social and community issues. The ten 2002 All-America Cities will be named on June 15 during a special ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center.

The 2001 All-America Cities were: Santa Clara, California; Delray Beach, Florida; South Miami, Florida; Fort Dodge, Iowa; Howard County, Maryland; Ocean City, Maryland; Independence, Missouri; Bozeman, Montana; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Brownsville, Texas.

Sponsors of the 2002 All-America City Awards include: Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Kansas City, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the City of Kansas City, Missouri. For a complete list of the 30 finalist communities please visit the National Civic League web site at http://www.ncl.org/.

The National Civic League is a 108-year-old non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening citizen democracy by transforming democratic institutions. NCL accomplishes its mission through technical assistance, training, publishing, research, and the All-America City Award. The National Civic League is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and has an office in Washington, D.C.