All-America Cities projects address community challenges.

• Position: News & Numbers

The National Civic League named 14 communities All-America Cities for 2012. The cities, counties, and regions were recognized for their ambitious plans to ensure that more children are proficient readers by the end of third grade. The 2012 All-America Cities are: Baltimore, Maryland; Dubuque, Iowa; Providence, Rhode Island; Louisville, Kentucky; Marshalltown, Iowa; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Quad Cities, Iowa and Illinois; Roanoke, Virginia; San Antonio, Texas; San Francisco, California; Seattle and the South King County Cities, Washington; Southern Pines, North Carolina; Springfield, Massachusetts; and Tahoe/Truckee, California.

The award is given to each year to recognize outstanding examples of community problem solving, civic engagement, and collaboration between the public, profit, and non-profit sectors. This year, the award had a special focus: applicants were asked to develop comprehensive plans to bridge the reading gap between at-risk students and other learners.

The 124 communities that are already part of the campaign are adopting a collective impact strategy, engaging their full communities around the goal of supporting low-income children...