CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR’S YOUTH COUNCIL NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS ONLINE
August 14, 2009 -- Mayor Bill White has announced that the 2009-10 Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC) is now taking applications. Interested applicants are invited to apply on-line at www.houstontx.gov/houstonyouth.
“Young people are our future and programs like the Youth Council give them an opportunity to develop leadership and citizenship skills while learning about city government,” said Mayor White.
Youth Council members will gain 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. In addition, they will plan town hall meetings covering topics of interest and concern to them and their peers; participate in community service projects both sponsored by the City of Houston and by other community organizations, and gather important input from other students through the annual Houston Youth Survey, the results of which are presented to City Council.
“The Mayor’s Youth Council emulates the Houston City Council with a chairperson (mayor), city secretary, nine district and five at-large council positions and their accompanying aides,” stated Cameron M. Waldner, Interim Director of Volunteer Initiatives Program (VIP), who is responsible for the MYC.
Guidelines and job descriptions for the 2009-10 terms are now available on-line. Applicants must be high school students, who reside or attend schools in the City of Houston, generally between the ages of fourteen (14) and eighteen (18). They should demonstrate strong interests in gaining knowledge about city government and promoting discussion on youth-related issues, show excellent abilities in organizing information, and work well with young people from a variety of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
“We are interested in individuals who may not be at the top of the class but who have an interest in government and will regard this appointment as one of their most important commitments. These students should be able to commit time and effort to the MYC. In return, students have the opportunity to discover a new passion or let a new passion discover them and develop personally as a result,” states Mr. Waldner.
Applications are now being accepted and are due by midnight on Wednesday, September 2, 2009. Incomplete applications will not be considered. A panel of youth and adult advisors will review the applications and invite qualified candidates for a personal interview. Decisions will be announced in mid-September.
