City Council Meeting Date: May 16, 2023
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator Martig
From: Communications & Human Resources Director Mahowald
Title
Recognition of service for our graduating Northfield High School Seniors and youth coming off Boards and Commissions.
Body
Action Requested:
Mayor Pownell and Mayor Pro Tem Zuccolotto will present certificates to graduating Youth on Board seniors, and those choosing not to continue with the program, in recognition of their service on Boards and Commissions. After the presentation, City Council Members and students will pose for a photo in front of the dais.
Summary Report:
The Mayor's Youth Council was formed in 2006. At that time, the community was just beginning to have conversations around how to ensure youth voice in civic affairs. The City Council took the initiative to form an Advisory Council that was made up entirely of youth. At that time, the Council was made up of 13-15 high school students. That model stayed in place until the spring of 2015 when the City again decided to take a leading role in giving youth a voice in the community and led the expansion of the program.
The desire to give youth a voice is grounded in the belief that youth play a critical role in the vitality of our community and that by allowing them to take part in public debate they help shape the world in which they would want to live and raise their families in. It is an investment in both the here and now and in the future of the community.
Healthy Community Initiatives (HCI) is the "backbone" of the program. HCI has a dedicated staff member that is responsible for acting as the touch point for all of the youth serving on these various boards, as well as the adults that are working with them. HCI coordinates the application process, the meetings, and the youth reflection on the value and benefit of the program.
The following Northfield High School students will be recognized for their service on Board and Commissions:
Graduating Seniors:
Name Board
Sam Folland Mayor’s Youth Council
Isaac Leer Mayor’s Youth Council
Maggie Muth Mayor’s Youth Council
Miguel Perez Mayor’s Youth Council
Henry Vrtis Mayor’s Youth Council
Sam Nelson Arts and Culture Commission
Izzy Sutlief Northfield Community Education Advisory Council
Lucy Menssen Environmental Quality Commission
Keriana Rasmussen Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Jeb Sawyer Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Ana George Human Rights Commission
Sarah Ripka Human Rights Commission
Paola Torres-Bermudez Library Board
Alison Huang Library Board
Emma Waldemar Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Gabbi Grant SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Project) Community Leadership Team
Underclassman not continuing in the program
Name Board
Louie Arnold Mayor’s Youth Council
Seth Knutson Arts and Culture Commission