SALT LAKE CITY – A national organization dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities are traveling across the nation, and their first stop is in Salt Lake City.
The National League of Cities is focusing on the importance education has in a young person’s life.
Education Partnership Coordinator Joanne Miller said the city seems to be doing well.
“They’re saying that Salt Lake City is on the right track, and that’s what we wanna hear,” Milner said.
Salt Lake City officials, like Mayor Ralph Becker, have worked to team up with National League of Cities to create a model for success in early childhood education all the way to college and then adulthood.
Audrey Hutchinson, National League of Cities, said there is work to be done across the country.
“We know that there are serious achievement gaps,” Hutchinson said. “We know that there are communities that don’t have high quality after-school programs and some communities aren’t doing very well.”
Milner said cooperation is critical.
“Our goal is to be able to, instead of having barriers or working in isolation... we now work in a collaborative effort and Salt Lake City has entered into this collaborative agreement with some very key stakeholders,” Milner said.
Milner said there are other factors other than education that are also important.
“If a child does not have the health and wellness factors, they are unable to focus, if they are unable to see or hear or have problems with their dentistry," she said.
Salt Lake City was the first of many stops for the National League of Cities. For more information, visit the League of Cities' website.
