EL PASO, Texas — On Aug. 3, 2019, a gunman shot and killed 23 people at an El Paso Walmart.

Later, in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its apex, El Paso suffered, becoming one of the hardest-hit regions in the country.

It was the resolve of the people of El Paso in the face of these tragedies that earned the city the distinction of being named among the recipients of a 2021 All-American City Award.

Beginning in 1949, the National Civic League has annually recognized what it calls “American civic innovation” with the award.

In selecting El Paso this year, the National Civic League cited the aforementioned tragedies as well as problems created by an increase in illegal migration at the Texas-Mexico border.

The organization noted that the city established a Family Resiliency Center, which offers healing to those affected by the 2019 mass shooting.

The city was additionally lauded for creating equitable pandemic relief programs and support. City of El Paso departments created relief programs to deploy over $31 million in aid to help with rental and shelter support, distributing food and providing access to child care.

Some other winning cities this year include Bellevue, Washington; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; and Livermore, California.