Pangallo signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the steps the city will take to become a safer and healthier community for children, according to UNICEF.
“This partnership with UNICEF USA and the work toward achieving the . . . designation are a reflection of our continuous commitment to make Salem a city where every child’s presence and voice are valued,” Pangallo said in the statement.
The city will promote Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, where children collect money donations in orange cartons, during Friday’s Mayor’s Night Out, a downtown Halloween event.
UNICEF will have a table to explain the program to Trick-or-Treaters, a UNICEF spokesperson said.
A city of about 45,000 residents, Salem had a public school enrollment of 3,831 children enrolled in grades pre-k to 12 for the last school year, according to the most recent data available from the state Department of Education.
Among the steps Salem has already taken to improve the lives of children is an expansion of pre-k programs and reimagining the eighth grade curriculum in middle school, the statement said.
The UNICEF Child Friendly City or County program was started five years ago to improve the lives of children and families across the country.
Six communities were chosen in 2020 to pilot the program – Houston, Minneapolis, Decatur, Ga., Boulder Co., Alton, Ill. and Prince George’s County, Md., according to UNICEF.
Salem and Denver are the first two post-pilot communities chosen for the initiative. The city applied to be part of the initiative, and were selected in June to move forward, UNICEF said.
“We are thrilled to welcome Salem as the first city in the Northeast to begin the journey toward becoming a UNICEF Child Friendly City and joining our growing network of partner cities across the country,” Darla Silva, chief program officer for UNICEF USA said in the statement.
Over the next three years, Salem will work toward achieving the status by assessing the environment for children in the city. They will also gather feedback and evaluate perceptions of Salem’s children and their families, the statement said.
The city will create a Local Action Plan for Youth, with community leaders and organizations identifying goals and aspirations.
An independent, third-party will decide if Salem meets the criteria to be named a UNICEF Child Friendly City.
“We look forward to supporting Salem as it expands on its strong foundation of child-focused initiatives to improve the lives of children and families across the community,” Silva said.