For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Rebecca Trout
Director, All-America City Award
Phone: (303) 571-4343
Email address: rebeccat@ncl.org
Website: www.nationalcivicleague.org

Gonzales, California Named

2023 All-America City Award Winner!

Gonzales is being recognized as a 2023 All-America City, the National Civic League's prestigious award has recognized and celebrated the best in American civic innovation since 1949. Gonzales showed the power of involving youth, and all residents, in identifying and addressing community challenges.


June 11, 2023 - Gonzales, CA was recognized today as one of 10 All-America City award winners. The National Civic League presented this honor to recognize Gonzales' work to improve the health and well-being of young people and, by extension, all residents.


"We are happy to designate Gonzales as an All-America City. Through their application and presentation, they showed that they are among the best in America at engaging youth and other residents to address important challenges."



-Doug Linkhart

President, National Civic League


All applicants submitted their community-wide work on engaging youth to create more thriving communities, and the field was narrowed to 20. This week, finalist communities traveled to Denver, Colorado where they connected and shared insights with peers, learned from national thought-leaders, and presented the story of their work to a jury of nationally recognized civic leaders.


Rather than focus on the limitations of being a small, lower-income, rather isolated town, Gonzales capitalizes on its strengths and opportunities with a can-do approach, often referred to as “The Gonzales Way.” Over the past 10 years, the city has made significant accomplishments in expanding healthcare access, increasing job opportunities, and adopting sustainability practices and policies. Gonzales has launched dozens of initiatives that are transforming the city into a laboratory for collaborative efforts designed to build a healthy community. Gonzales has reimagined a Community Center Complex, implemented a Community Health Worker Program, and empowered youth leaders to educate their community on pressing issues such as mental health.  


Learn more about Gonzales' winning efforts

About the National Civic League
The National Civic League advances inclusive civic engagement through our community assistance programs, including tools, trainings and facilitation services, our award and recognition programs, and nationally recognized research and publications. We promote efforts that seek to listen to, and to learn from residents in ongoing conversations and leverage those insights to help reshape communities so they will thrive.

The All-America City Award is made possible through the support of Southwest Airlines – the official airline of the All-America City Award, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, CGI Digital, MissionSquare Retirement, the Colorado Health Foundation, and many others.

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