Tacoma One of the Best Communities for Young People
America’s Promise Alliance announced this week that Tacoma has been named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People.
The award recognizes communities that are working to improve the well-being of their youth, and alleviate the “dropout crisis.”
The group cited the City of Tacoma’s collaboration with Tacoma Public Schools and the Metropolitan Park District to focus on improving graduation rates.
Read more here.
Filed under: tacoma-schools
21 comments
T Thorax O'Tool September 22, 2010
So, how does T-Town rank for those who are a wee bit older than high school? I’m thinking the 24-35 crowd
T tom waits September 23, 2010
give us your children…
E Erik B. September 23, 2010
Tacoma is a great place for young people and the art and dining capital of the northwest!
T Trashtown September 23, 2010
As a young person I’d say this is pretty much Bullshit. I enjoy living in Tacoma but mostly for it’s location in Nature & Natural Beauty. There is nothing for kids downtown or any other district. Bars are the “thing to do” here, making finding something to do on a saturday night challenging for people under 21. We have the Lamest skateparks in the Northwest (by far). We have No All-ages music venues. I even heard a pinball place is opening the other day, but guess what, IT’S A BAR TOO!
give me a break.
M Morty September 23, 2010
Maybe… but after looking at the TacomaCrime.Org website it looks like a terrible place for the really young. Yikes!
Y You're Welcome September 24, 2010
Really? I mean, this is cool and all, but don’t we have the highest drop-out rate in the state? Didn’t most of our schools fail the basic state qualifications?
T TacomAroma September 24, 2010
Tacoma is a great place to be a young gang-banger…and the I agree with Trashtown, the skateparks here suck.
C crenshaw sepulveda September 24, 2010
I wonder how much you have to pay America’s Promise Alliance to get on this list. Sort of like send your application on the back of a check for $20,000? I suppose it looks good along with the All America City designation. I guess if you are not an All America City you must be like Islamabad or something.
J Jennifer Boutell September 26, 2010
Admittedly, Tacoma’s probably much better for the 24-35+ crowd than the under 25 crowd, but if you’ve ever spent any time in Hartford, CT, Bakersfield or Fresno CA, or any number of other similar size cities you have to admit that Tacoma (for its size) is a big improvement. We do need more things open at night, but then you know we also need people to go to the places that are open at night – which is why in fairly short order they aren’t anymore.
Or sit home and complain that there’s nothing to do, thus ensuring that there isn’t.
D dolly varden September 26, 2010
@11: Yet, we have less nightlife than Olympia, which is about 1/4th our size. If Tacoma had half Olympia’s per capita cultural energy, we’d be in great shape.
A Amy September 27, 2010
I’ve been disgruntled with Tacoma’s nightlife & public transportation for years. One of the best alternatives, I’ve found to bars is the YMCA. My brain always whirs with ideas for filling vacant places with dance & music halls or art after hours rec centers, but I’m not sure what activities will really get people to crawl out onto the streets around here. I can send out 50 invites to go dancing and get about 5 replies from “friends.” So young adults, what is it that you are seeking?
P PointDexter September 27, 2010
9.out.of.10.people.leave.Tacoma.after.age.18.
P PointDexter September 27, 2010
City.Council.Secret.Plan.Unveiled!…New.Tacoma.Slogan!:
Act.Your.Age.
Not.Your.Shoe.Size.
J jamie from thriceallamerican September 27, 2010
Hey folks, anyone want to chip in for a new keyboard for PointDexter? His spacebar appears to be broken.
J Jennifer Boutell September 27, 2010
It would help enormously if the city would actively cultivate a couple of all ages venues, rather than making it increasingly difficult for them to get and stay open. They probably do have to be 1) well policed and 2) somewhere where they won’t bug the neighbors too much, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have any. Take some economic development grant money and rehab one of those huge vacant spaces out on the tideflats, with fire protection systems required for new nightclubs in the fire code. Then create a zone with less stringent parking requirements in the evenings, when there is absolutely no one down there to mind.
Also, whatever needs to change in order to entice another movie theater to open within the city limits, get ‘er done.
P PointDexter September 28, 2010
Tacoma:
One.of.the.Best.Communities.for.Scoring.Contraband.Flintstone.Vitamins.
T Trashtown September 29, 2010
I recently tried to start an All-Ages venue through the Spaceworks Tacoma program, but after 4 months of leading me on and repeatedly telling me they had a space for me, they bailed on my project. So typical of Tacoma, it makes me sick.
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS YOU OLD BASTARDS! I never thought I’d say this, but maybe I should just move to Portland like everybody else..
P PointDexter September 29, 2010
Tacoma:
One.of.the.Best.Communities.to.Open.a.Macaroni.and.Cheese.&.Whine.Bar.
C crenshaw sepulveda September 29, 2010
Moving to Portland is often the best way to get the Tacoma you want. Already in place, functional and all. Reality does trump destiny.
A Altered Chords October 1, 2010
point dexter’s writing would be really clever if everything he wrote had 10 decimal points.
I actually counted and was bitterly dissapointed.
Who the hell needs nightlife when you’ve got exit133 to look at?
P PointDexter October 1, 2010
Tacoma:
One.of.the.Best.Communities.to.Die.Young.and.Have.A.Good.Looking.Corpse.