The Meriden Family Zone Promise Neighborhood, in Meriden, CT, is starting its planning process. The Record-Journal talks to a family served by the Zone about just what it is that makes a Promise Neighborhood so great.

Meriden–a “small city with big city challenges”–has a great opportunity with this Promise Neighborhood funding to improve the outcomes for families and youth like Ricky Vargas, 14, a student at Wilcox Technical Regional Technical High School.

“I want to go to college and be a better person,” Ricky said.

Congratulations, Meriden! Can’t wait to see what you do next.