Madison County has been named a Community of Promise through America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth.

A growing list of community partners will be working to deliver to local youth the five promises of America's Promise: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, marketable skills and opportunities to serve.

In 1999, Eastern Kentucky University became the Commonwealth's first University of Promise, and a year later the University hosted a statewide America's Promise summit featuring Gen. Colin Powell, now secretary of state. Powell founded America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth in 1997 as an effort to mobilize Americans from every walk of life to build the character and competence of the nation's youth.

Amber Jones, an EKU junior and an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow and member of the national Youth Partnership with America's Promise, is directing the Community of Promise initiative, which already has brought together EKU, Berea College, Cumberland Valley National Bank and Trust, Berea National Bank and Trust, Telford YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Madison County, Berea Independent Schools, Madison County Schools, Model Laboratory School, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass, United Way of Madison County, Madison County Public Library, Berea City Council, Kentucky River Foothills, BellSouth, The Richmond Register, YWCA Safe Alternative, and several local officials. More partners are expected to join the effort soon.

"This is truly an honor for our community to be recognized as a county dedicated to the betterment of our children and youth," Jones said. "We want our children to grow up as well prepared as possible and we all can help.

"Kentucky has very few Communities of Promise, and we are proud to have Madison County step up in this movement," Jones added. "We are hoping to make Madison County's Promise the role model for Communities of Promise throughout Kentucky."

As a Community of Promise, Madison County pledges to: engage a diverse community team of key leaders, determine the needs of youth and current community assets, set measurable goals, develop a local communications plan, develop Sites of Promise, secure local commitments from all segments of the community, and track the delivery of local commitments to youth.

The organization will be housed at EKU.

Also, a Promise Station website will be launched in December to give all Madison Countians access to information and resources to help youth.

Any individuals, businesses or organizations wishing to help in the effort should contact Jones at 859-622-8472 or 606-224-0184 or amberj@americaspromise.org.