Our Promise

America's Promise

America's Promise www.americaspromise.org. . . Building on the legacy of our founder, General Colin Powell, we are the leader in forging a strong and effective partnership alliance committed to seeing that children experience the fundamental resources they need to succeed - The Five Promises (caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others) - at home, in school and out in the community. Together with our Alliance partner organizations, we know the success of our children is grounded in experiencing these Promises. We are proof that the power of the alliance is greater than the sum of its separate parts."

America’s Promise initiative is adopted by Plymouth, MA

With more than 300 national partners, America's Promise Alliance is devoted to improving the lives of young people. Together we ensure young people receive the Five Promises they need to graduate high school prepared for success. Children who receive at least four of the Five Promises are much more likely than those who experience only one or zero Promises to succeed academically, socially and civically. They are more likely to avoid violence, contribute to their communities and achieve high grades in school. Receiving at least four of the Five Promises also appears to mitigate gaps across racial and economic boundaries. To experience the full power of the Promises, young people must experience these critical supports throughout their lives — in their families, at schools and out in their communities.

The America's Promise Alliance brings together partners from every sector of American life, including businesses, nonprofits, education, elected officials, faith groups and foundations. America’s Promise Alliance are looking for Alliance partners who share a belief that children and youth are a national priority and are committed to collaboration as a way to reach more young people with the Five Promises. We invite all who care about our nation's future to join usto help improve the lives of 15 million underserved young people. Each partner brings unique assets to our Alliance. But all national Alliance partners agree to do two things: 1.) Set and pursue an individual goal, preferably, to advance one of the Alliance’s three Action Strategies, that involves providing direct services, fostering collaboration or raising awareness of the needs of young people in order to reach more children and youth with the Five Promises. 2.) Participate in joint efforts that enable the Alliance to make a greater impact than individual partners could achieve alone. (www.americaspromise.org.)

In the spring of 2008, the Plymouth Youth Development Collaborative (PYDC) adopted the America’s Promise Model and brought the FIVE PROMISES to Plymouth, MA. PYDC supports the belief of the America’s Promise Alliance that all youth must have: a caring adult in their life, a safe place to go to, an effective education, an opportunity to give back to their community, and a healthy start. PYDC has organized our efforts around this model and continues to measure the success of our work for Plymouth’s youth through the Communities that Care Youth Survey. PYDC and Plymouth Public Schools has received invaluable support from District Attorney Timothy Cruz’s Office in rallying the Plymouth community around these five essential promises. This model gives our collaborative a common focus and goal to use when working toward the success of all young people. PYDC has also been fortunate enough to have Dr. Jon Zaff, Vice-President of Research at America’s Promise, attend numerous PYDC events and meetings in helping support our strategic planning as a community coalition.

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Plymouth's Promise

The Plymouth Youth Development Collaborative has organized into Five Promise Teams. Each Promise Team will strategize around one of the Five Promises.

• Caring Adults and Safe Places

  All children need support and guidance from caring adults in their families, at schools and in their communities. These include ongoing, secure relationships with parents as well as formal and informal relationships with teachers, mentors, coaches, youth volunteers and neighbors. To ensure that the youth have caring adults in their lives. Become a mentor.

  All children need to be physically and emotionally safe wherever they are - from the actual places of families, schools, neighborhoods and communities to the virtual places of media. They also need a healthy balance between structured, supervised activities and unstructured time. To ensure that youth have safe places to live and play. View a map and list of Safe Places.

• Healthy Start

  All children need and deserve healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthful habits. These result from regular health check-ups and needed treatment, good nutrition and exercise, healthy skills and knowledge, and good role models of physical and psychological health. To ensure youth have access to the resources they need for a healthy start. View our food resources page.

• Effective Education

  All children need the intellectual development, motivation and skills that equip them for successful work and lifelong learning. These result from having quality learning environments, challenging expectations and consistent guidance and mentoring. To ensure that youth are able to thrive in the workforce. View the Plymouth Public Schools website.

• Opportunities to Help Others

  All children need the chance to make a difference in their families, at schools and in their communities. Knowing how to make a difference comes from having models of caring behavior, awareness of the needs of others, a sense of personal responsibility to contribute to the larger society, and opportunities for volunteering, leadership and service. To ensure that youth are able to be a part of their community. Check here for opportunities.

Check out our mentor's website at www.brocktonspromise.org.