City of Salem Joins UNICEF USA’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative

NEW YORK, NY/SALEM, MA (September 26, 2025) – The City of Salem is proud to officially announce its partnership with UNICEF USA by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to start its estimated three-year journey toward recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly City. Through the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), Salem will work to strengthen support for children and families across the city, building on Mayor Dominick Pangallo’s commitment to elevate youth voices.

“I’m proud of the work that has been done to make our community a welcoming and supportive place for our youth, including establishing the Salem Children’s Alliance and re-launching the Youth Commission and Children’s Cabinet,” said Mayor Dominick Pangallo. “This partnership with UNICEF USA and the work toward achieving the CFCI designation are a reflection of our continuous commitment to make Salem a city where every child’s presence and voice are valued.”

Following the five-year anniversary of UNICEF USA launching the CFCI pilot in six cities across the United States, Salem joins Denver in the first post-pilot cohort. Cities in the United States who have earned recognition include Houston, Texas (2023), Minneapolis, Minnesota (2024) and Decatur, Georgia (2025) with more cities anticipating recognition in the coming years. 

“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,” said UNICEF USA Chief Program Officer, Darla Silva. “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.”

Through the CFCI Framework for Action, the City will conduct a situation analysis to gather stories, feedback, and perceptions on the state of Salem’s children and families. This analysis will assess child well-being data and engage residents through a series of Community Conversations to create a Local Action Plan for Youth, ensuring city leaders and community stakeholders can collaborate on the goals and aspirations identified by the community. Once implemented, an independent third-party evaluation will determine if the City of Salem meets the global criteria to receive UNICEF Child Friendly City recognition–potentially by late 2028.

In recent years, Salem has taken significant steps to support the growth and success of children and youth across the community. These efforts include expanding the City-wide Pre-K Partnership and bringing City Hall to Go and the Mobile Mayor’s Office into schools and youth-centered spaces. The City has also extended the Reimagining Middle School model to all 8th graders in Salem Public Schools, strengthened the City Connects program to meet children’s comprehensive needs, launched a Summer Youth Jobs pilot in partnership with MassHire, and worked with the Essex County District Attorney’s Office to revive youth intervention programming at Palmer Cove Park.

To stay up-to-date on Salem’s progress toward recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly City and to learn more about how to get involved, please follow the Salem Children’s Alliance on social media and visit the Salem Children’s Alliance on the City of Salem website.

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About UNICEF USA 

UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children. Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of all children and helps every child thrive. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org. 
 

About the Child Friendly Cities Initiative

Since its inception in 1996, UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative has been implemented in more than 3,500 municipalities and over 40 countries. The UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative is rooted in developing policies that protect, support and empower children and young people by providing them with the necessary tools and resources to shape their futures. This multi-year commitment is dedicated to centering the rights, needs, and voices of children and families in decisions made by the City.

For more information, contact
Zeynep Cavusoglu | zcavusoglu@unicefusa.org | 908.956.5650

About Salem, MA

The City of Salem, located on Massachusetts’ North Shore, is a historic coastal community recognized for its cultural heritage, economic vitality, and engaged citizenry. With a population of approximately 45,000 residents. Salem is known for its rich maritime history, as being the birthplace of the National Guard, and for the infamous Witchcraft Trials of 1692. Salem is also a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly City where its residents, and over a million tourists annually, can easily visit historic architecture, unique attractions, world-famous museums, and an eclectic mix of shops and dining options. For more information, visit salemma.gov.

For more information, contact:

Sarah Roy | sroy@salem.com | 978.745.9595 ext. 41008 Lisa Peterson | lpeterson@salem.com | 978.619.5603