Great news! Providence, Rhode Island, a 2012 All-America City has won the $5 million grand prize in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge.
The city has an idea about how to improve the vocabularies of preschool-age children throughout the city by measuring and rapidly increasing the number of words spoken in their households.
“I am thrilled that Providence has been selected as a Mayors Challenge winner,” said Mayor Taveras of Providence. “From day one, my administration has been focused on improving educational opportunities and promoting the health and welfare of children throughout our City. Not only does winning this prize demonstrate that Providence is dedicated to innovative thinking that can improve the lives of Providence residents, but it is truly an indication that the great ideas we generate in Providence have the power to positively affect the lives of people living all across the country.”
Providence won an All-America City Award last year for its efforts to get more kids reading proficiently by the end of third grade, thus joining the nationwide Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.
The National Civic League congratulates Providence for its innovative efforts to improve education for under-served students.
