City Council Meeting Date: May 21, 2019
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator Martig
From: Communications & Human Resources Director Mahowald
Title
Recognition of Graduating Northfield High School Seniors serving on Boards and Commissions
Body
Action Requested:
Mayor Pownell and City Council Members will present certificates to graduating seniors in recognition of their service on Boards and Commissions.
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. They have 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 Seniors will be recognized for their service on Board and Commissions:
Name Board and Commission
Neina Abdulai Library Board
Colin Bandy Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Ann Beimers Arts & Culture Commission
Emily Boland Northfield Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention
Abby Borene Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Keara Cooney Human Rights Commission
Elsa Kasten Community Services Advisory Board
Elias Kruse Northfield Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention
Logan Ledman Heritage Preservation Commission
Arlie Lee Planning Commission
Athziri Marcial Rodriguez Mayor’s Youth Council
Celia Meagher Mayor’s Youth Council
Dan Nelson Mayor’s Youth Council
Evan Orjala Heritage Preservation Commission
AJ Pahs Northfield Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention
Angelo Perez Mayor’s Youth Council
Caroline Pritchard Mayor’s Youth Council
Isaac Riggins Human Rights Commission
Sam Ryden Mayor’s Youth Council
Hannah Singh Arts and Culture Commission
Molly Stevens Mayor’s Youth Council
Eli Voland Mayor’s Youth Council
Teagan Watkins Library Board
Samuel Wilmot Statewide Health Improvement Planning (SHIP)
Community Leadership Team
Logan Wells Mayor’s Youth Council and Beyond The Yellow Ribbon