October 5, 2009 -- Mayor Bill White is proud to announce members of his 2009-10 Mayor's Youth Council. The new administration will be inaugurated on Thursday, October 8, 2009, in the City Hall Council Chambers.
The Mayor's Youth Council was started in 1998 to encourage young Houstonians to learn more about city government and to provide a voice for Houston's youth. Youth Council members were selected from a pool of over 350 applicants and were chosen because of their competitive written application and personal interview. They must either reside in or attend school in the City of Houston. The Mayor's Youth Council emulates the Houston City Council with a Council Chair (Youth Mayor), City Secretary, Chief of Staff, Communications and Technology Director, Special Projects Director, five (5) at-large and nine (9) district council positions and their accompanying senior aides. All will serve a term from October 2009 through April 2010.
Youth Council members develop a sense of personal growth and achievement, an understanding of city departments and a rapport with community leaders, citizens and elected officials. Members are called upon to help make decisions affecting Houston's youth as well as participate in numerous activities throughout the year. They will hold monthly Council Meetings on a weekday evening at which Houston youth may bring forth their issues, concerns and recommendations. They will also hold monthly Town Hall Meetings, usually devoted to a specific topic involving community resource experts, as well as organize and participate in community service projects and programs. Youth Council members will develop a relationship with their respective Council office to become familiar with activities and issues of that office. Most importantly, they will serve as the "voice" for Houston's youth and report formally throughout the year to the Mayor and City Council on youth concerns.
This year, thirty-three (33) young individuals were installed:
