As a member of the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council, I would like to express my gratitude to all the delegates of the All-America City trip to Anaheim, Calif. I was proud to represent Lewiston as an All-America contender, and was fortunate to attend this awakening experience.

The experience has ignited my enthusiasm for the future of our city. After working with my peers and elders on producing the AAC application, I now recognize the great strides Lewiston has taken within only the past decade, and only wish to carry on these improvements presently and in the future.

No amount of words can express the dedication that was put into the project by the advisors of LYAC and other AAC presentation members. It was a special opportunity for myself and other LYAC members to work one-on-one with city officials. I was disappointed that Lewiston was not touted as one of the top 10 of the cities, but was reassured by surrounding members that the “All-America City Winner” was just a title. It is the obstacles Lewiston has overcome in recent years that are the true successes of our city.

I am not a native of Maine, so it is encouraging to enter a community that adapts well to cultural, economic and political changes in such a short amount of time, and I anticipate a return to Maine after college to continue the city’s progression. Citizens of Lewiston should be proud to be part of this community.

Ashley Morgan, treasurer

Lewiston Youth Advisory Council, Lewiston