The All-America City Award recognizes communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues.

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The Teree Caldwell-Johnson All-America Leader Award

The Teree Caldwell-Johnson All-America Leader Award celebrates the work of civically engaged community members. Launched by the National Civic League, the award recognizes individuals for their outstanding civic contributions to their communities. It is named in honor of Teree Caldwell-Johnson, who embodied the very qualities this award was created to recognize—inclusiveness, innovation, collaboration, equity, civic engagement, and community impact.

Teree dedicated 20 years of her life to Oakridge Neighborhood and Oakridge Neighborhood Services, a housing and human services nonprofit in Des Moines, IA. Since 2006, she also gave her time and talents as an elected representative on the Des Moines School Board. Additionally, she served on the League’s board of directors and as its president from 2022 to 2023. Her lifelong commitment to strengthening communities and uplifting others continues to inspire this award’s mission.

Winners will be announced in May 2025 and recognized through the League’s website, newsletter and social media channels. Winners will also be invited to participate and be recognized at the All-America City Award Event. Recipients will be invited to make a presentation about their work during workshops at the awards event, will be featured in the League’s Promising Practices Database and potentially in the National Civic Review

Eligibility:

The National Civic League’s All-America Leader Award seeks to recognize individuals who have successfully spearheaded civic engagement efforts in their community. All individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, political affiliation, employment status or any other factor are eligible to be nominated.

Nomination Process:

Applicants must be nominated by a third party to be considered; self-nominations will not be accepted. To nominate someone for the All-America Leader Award, submit a letter not to exceed 500 words describing how the nominated leader meets the following award criteria. A second letter of support may be submitted as well.

Criteria:

  1. Exemplifies the All-America City criteria of impact, inclusiveness, innovation, collaboration, equity and civic engagement.
  2. Has had an impact on the wider community (i.e. What difference did they make?).
  3. Inspired others to get involved to undertake comparable efforts.
  4. Demonstrates the insight and courage to collaborate across lines that usually divide people.

Nomination letters are due by April 21, 2025. If two letters are being sent on behalf of the same nominee, they should be packaged into one email. Letters should not include photos or external links.

Contact [email protected] with questions.

Past Winners

Teree Caldwell-Johnson (2024)

Olivera Jankovska, Dallas, TX (2023)

Jeremy Burnside, Portsmouth, OH (2022)

Hon. Roy Buol, Dubuque, IA (2022)

Download Nomination Application

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Webinars, Interviews and Speeches

This page includes webinars, interviews and speeches covering promising practices around the country. The free monthly Promising Practices Webinar series highlights successful projects around the country with speakers from cities implementing creative strategies for civic engagement. These webinars are free and open to anyone who is interested in creating stronger communities. The National Civic League's interview series includes conversations with elected officials, civic engagement experts, figures important to our history and others. Recorded speeches allow you to re-live the keynote addresses of past All-America City awards events and conferences.

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