As It Overcomes Challenges, Stockton Named All-America City By National Civic League
STOCKTON (CBS13) — For the first time in more than a decade, Stockton has been named an All-America City.
The city is recently out of bankruptcy and has struggled with violent crime—it set a record with 71 homicides in 2012. But city leaders point to three years of improvement, with only 12 criminal homicides reported in the first five months of the year.
A small contingent of Stockton's diverse groups including Fathers and Families, With Our Words, and the county's probation department worked together this year to get the city named an All-America City by the National Civic League.
"I don't think it's a hard sell for people outside, maybe for people inside Stockton. They've got to start believing in it, then the word will spread like wildfire," said Stockton Chamber of Commerce CEO Doug Wilhoit.
It's been 11 years since the Stockton was named an All-America City. The criteria was narrowly tailored to the National Civic League's theme of engaging and supporting vulnerable boys and men.
Stockton's group presented three civic and community projects working through the past five years to help people in need and never giving up on the people who call Stockton home.
"In the AB109 department, I work directly with men and women coming home, helping them get jobs and healing through the trauma of being incarcerated," said Andrew Lucero with Fathers & Families
It's an experience Lucero can relate to. He was once incarcerated and came for help at fathers and families while on probation. He was part of the group bringing the award home.
"That's one of the best things," he said. "I took a lot away from this community growing up. Being able to give back now and bring the award back to the community is a blessing."
Stockton previously was honored in 1999 and 2004.
