Press Release: City of Evanston Selected to Join NLC’s Cities of Opportunity Initiative

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Press release

For Immediate Release

October 22, 2019
Media Contact: Patrick Deignan pdeignan@cityofevanston.org
Phone: 847-448-8234

City of Evanston Selected to Join NLC’s Cities of Opportunity Initiative

National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education, and Families

EVANSTON, IL - The City of Evanston is one of six communities nationwide to be selected to participate in the National League of Cities (NLC) Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute) Cities of Opportunity Initiative.

Cities of Opportunity, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a 12-month technical assistance initiative aimed at helping cities make transformative policies and systems change to promote healthy people and thriving communities. Evanston's Cities of Opportunity team will focus on affordable housing and health. Team members include 5th Ward Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, staff from the City's Health & Human Services and Community Development departments, and external partner, the Evanston Development Cooperative.

Other communities selected to participate in this year’s cohort through the competitive application process include Dubuque, Iowa; Duluth, Minnesota; Las Vegas, Nevada; Napa, California; and South Fulton, Georgia. Through the program, the NLC will help these cities develop and implement robust, integrated action plans for their communities that are informed by peer learning and engagement with national experts. 

"Evanston is committed to advancing equity and opportunity in our community," said Interim Director of Health & Human Services Ike Ogbo. "The Cities of Opportunity Initiative will allow City leaders, staff and community partners to engage more deeply with each other and with other leading cities to find solutions and advance policies that improve the health and well-being of our most vulnerable residents."

The NLC defines Cities of Opportunity as places where all residents can reach their full potential and live healthy, productive and fulfilling lives as part of a thriving community. In these cities, all residents—regardless of geography, race/ethnicity, age, background, gender or wealth—have access to:

  • Opportunities to learn and grow, from early childhood through postsecondary education
  • Affordable, safe and healthy housing
  • Economic opportunities, including family-supporting jobs and essential income supports
  • Transportation and social networks that connect them to jobs, schools and community resources
  • Safe neighborhoods that include accessible places to play and maintain active lifestyles
  • Affordable, healthy foods and other community and family necessities

To learn more about the NLC Cities of Opportunity Initiative, visit citiesofopportunity.nlc.org or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.

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