Leadership and Youth Advisory Board

This week, I am writing specifically to the youth of Huntsville and their parents. Two of the developmental assets for building a healthy community relate to the community valuing youth and using youth as resources. Huntsville took a major step toward addressing these assets by creating the Huntsville Youth Council. The City of Huntsville’s Youth Advisory Board, which includes four youth representatives, spent more than half a year developing policies to create the Youth Council. These policies were approved at Tuesday’s Council meeting. The adults have given you an opportunity to have your voices heard. Now it is your turn to take advantage of this opportunity.

            The Huntsville Youth Council will be made up of eight leadership positions and multiple committees. The students participating will represent the youth of the community before local governmental institutions and the community at large. The High School is generously allowing the Youth Council to meet during school hours to avoid conflicts with many extracurricular activities. The first year, the Youth Advisory Board will select the leadership through an application process, and in following years the youth will select the leadership themselves. The Youth Advisory Board will begin the application process very soon, so keep an eye out if you are interested, or contact Huntsville’s Promise for more information.

            This is an opportunity for the youth of Huntsville to share their opinions about important issues in their community. We as adults often think that we know what is best for you, but really what we need to be doing is listening to you. The Huntsville Youth Council is an opportunity for youth to talk to the community and to make your views known. I hope that youth will help make the Huntsville Youth Council a success and that parents and organizational leaders encourage youth leaders to take part. This is an exciting chance for the youth of Huntsville to make a difference in local affairs. I look forward to your participation.

11.14.04