From Mayor Bill Finch:
Mayor Bill Finch today announced that he is accepting applications for the 2014-2015 Mayor’s Youth Council. The new initiative provides youth a chance to learn about and participate in local government while serving in an advisory capacity to the Mayor on youth issues.
The Youth Council will be comprised of 10 high school students from across Bridgeport Public Schools and Vocational programs. Youth participants will build fundamental leadership skills and core competencies in policy change while working on community service projects related to education, violence/bullying, and environmental stewardship.
“My office is committed to building a new generation of young leaders who demonstrate a desire to be change agents in the Bridgeport community,” said Mayor Bill Finch about the new initiative. “As members of the council, youth will be required to attend city council meetings, participate in skill-building workshops, and job shadow high-level city officials.”
Members will be selected based on their desire to promote social change and leadership within their community. They may also be nominated for consideration by a school principal, guidance counselor, school superintendent, teacher, faith leader, or community leader.
Students interested in being considered for a spot on the Mayor’s Youth Council can download an application by visiting www.bridgeportct.gov/myc. Applications are due by January 7, 2014.
For further information about the council please contact Sherrell Dorsey, Office of Education and Youth Policy at 206.225.1747 or Sherrell.dorsey@bridgeportct.gov.
About the Mayor’s Youth Council
The Mayor’s Youth Council was created by Mayor Bill Finch to empower youth in the City of Bridgeport. The council will assist city officials in the development of community projects from a youth’s perspective. The MYC is a program of the Office of Education and Youth Policy department in partnership with RYASAP, Junior Achievement, Career Resources, VIP College Prep, and other nonprofit supporters.
Lennie,
Within a 24-hour period you have revealed two outreach programs from the Mayor’s office, one that recognizes the birthdays of those who are seniors, and the second for a limited youth group. Do you think he will be reaching out to disaffected taxpayers next as a group? Isn’t that where fences need mending, questions need answers, and where residence revaluations will soon be arriving at City homes?
So there will be 10 students out of several thousand who will be pre-selected for the Youth Council as the “new generation of young leaders who demonstrate a desire to become change agents in the Bridgeport community.” Are the balance of the youth of high school age chopped liver, maybe? Change agents sounds pretty good until they get to the mandatory City Council meetings and see the CC really only deals with the “cud” because the nutritious food has been chewed already and this type of digestion is not even similar to being a “change agent.”
“As members of the council, youth will be required to attend city council meetings, participate in skill-building workshops, and job shadow high-level city officials.’ Will they be accused of stalking if their questions tread into unacceptable areas? Isn’t Adam Wood already a poster boy for youthful change agents? Do you need any more?
Frankly I cannot wait to meet these young people at the City Council meetings. I can provide them with a copy of my regular comments to the CC and answer questions for them. Won’t that be educational for them? I am afraid were I to shadow high-level city officials with an intent to advance my knowledge about how changes get made in Bridgeport, security officials might be called. Or at least I would face that wonderful answer from CFO Ann Kelly-Lenz in November: “I choose not to answer questions.”
The youth will be curious, I will guess. I hope to help them see where curious questions need to be asked and good answers expected together with OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT governance. Time will tell.
*** The Concept and Idea to get city youth involved and understanding city government procedures and workings is a win-win undertaking, no doubt! ***
I totally agree.