“Collaboration is Ingrained in Our City’s Culture.” So said Mayor Jimmy Gray of Hampton, VA, as he joined hundreds of local residents in celebrating Hampton’s designation as an All-America City on Sunday. Hampton was one of ten communities designated in this year’s program, which focused on community collaboration to advance sustainability and resilience.
In June Hampton won its fifth All-America City award, demonstrating once again “The Hampton Way” of engaging its residents in problem-solving. With a long history of engaging residents in civic affairs, Hampton’s delegation highlighted three local programs to enhance sustainability, its Clean City Commission, Phoebus Shoreline project, and Aberdeen Gardens resilience project.
The Clean City Commission has engaged hundreds of volunteers to conduct cleanups and beautification projects as part of Hampton’s adoption of the Keep America Beautiful program. Project Director Wendy Iles said that nearly 150 volunteers, including many young people, typically participate in regular cleanups.
The city’s work in the historically underprivileged neighborhoods of Phoebus and Aberdeen Gardens reflect Hampton’s “Living With Water” approach to addressing sea level rise and flooding, borrowing tactics learned through its “Dutch Dialogues,” a series of visits and conversations that began in 2015. These tactics include the use of parks, wetlands and other strategies to mitigate flooding, as opposed to building seawalls. Residents are engaged in the program by using rain barrels, community gardens and other mitigations.
Hampton has focused on community engagement for decades, involving residents each year in developing its budget and through its 62 boards and commissions. Its Unity Commission and Diversity College promote equity and diversity, while its Youth Commission offers young people skill-building and meaningful involvement. The city’s School Board includes two young people as nonvoting members.
“What makes us an All-America City,” said Mayor Gray at Sunday’s celebration, “is the way we come together any time we need to solve problems. We make sure to provide all residents an opportunity to be part of our future.”
