After a summer spent learning the ins and outs of local governance, four student interns hope to leave a lasting mark with the creation of a Youth Advisory Board.
Martinsville City Council members congratulated Camden Holland, De’miya Martin, Journey Porter and Destiny Johnson, who provided details on their efforts to kick-start a youth board that would serve as a new city committee consisting of local high school students. All four are students at Carlisle School in Axton.
“The purpose of this council is to provide local students a voice in our municipal government,” Martin said. “The Youth Advisory Council is to be guided by the belief that local involvement at a young age is crucial to ensuring a well confirmed and engaged citizenry.”
The idea is still in its infancy, with the interns working out how best to go about spreading the word and fostering interest among their fellow students. Details like the size of the board were not mentioned.
“Our first order of business is to obviously get members,” Martin said. “We want to grow what we have, I know we can do it by advocating and being the voice.”
A youth board would be a natural continuation of the city’s summer internship program, according to information provided by the city. The four students were the first to take part in the city’s new internship program, according to Mayor L.C. Jones.
“They worked on this and did this all on their own,” Jones said.
City officials said the proposed youth board would give voice to the city’s youth, an overlooked part of the population. According to U.S. Census data, a quarter of Martinsville’s population is under 18.
“Creating future leaders and civic engagement has long been a priority for local government,” according to information from the city. “Engaging the next generation of leaders and introducing public services were crucial components of the summer youth employment program that was implemented in the city.”
Officials said both the internship program and youth board can provide city officials with a perspective they don’t hear from often, allowing them to make more informed decisions.
According to Holland, the board would likely consist of high school students. The board’s primary purpose would be to provide advice to the city council and other boards as needed.
Martin touted the educational potential of the proposed board.
“A youth council has the ability to promote civic engagement among the youth,” Martin said. “It gives youth a formal role in local happenings, offers real world experience, and teaches [participants] about the role of boards and commissions.”
