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Filed in Clerk's Office <br /> BILL NO.27-19 AUG 0.7 ZU19 <br /> KAREEMAH FOWLER <br /> ORDINANCE NO. CRY CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN <br /> AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH <br /> BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING CHAPTER 2,ARTICLE 1,OF THE SOUTH <br /> BEND MUNICIPAL CODE OF BY THE INCLUSION OF NEW DIVISION I <br /> ENTITLED YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL <br /> STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT <br /> On April 14, 2003 the South Bend Common Council passed Ordinance No. 9414-03 <br /> which created the Youth Advisory Council. That ordinance has been codified as Division 1 of <br /> Article 1 of Chapter 2 of the South Bend Municipal Code. The ordinance created a mechanism <br /> for youth to provide input and become involved in the civic process so both youth and the city <br /> can benefit. It also provides opportunities for close engagement between Common Council <br /> Members,members of the City Administration, City agencies,boards, and commissions. <br /> Strong neighborhood organizations are the building blocks of our local democracy. One <br /> strategy for creating healthier neighborhoods is "community organizing to motivate action, <br /> bringing people together to work collectively to improve neighborhoods."While there are <br /> individuals who demonstrate passion for improving the quality of life in their neighborhoods, <br /> many do not have the skills to effectively organize, lead, and sustain momentum to catalyze <br /> change. <br /> The NRC and the City have committed to collaborating to ensure we are rebuilding the <br /> base of our local democracy through civic leadership education. Resident capacity to organize <br /> and communicate effectively with their government is critical to ensuring inclusive, <br /> representative civic voice. There are many issues in city government, in the South Bend <br /> community, and in its many neighborhoods that may be of interest to youth; such topics may <br /> include, but are not limited to, violence, educational and recreational opportunities, <br /> employment,homelessness, and climate change. <br /> The Youth Advisory Council would provide a means for youth to positively connect <br /> with city government, explore local social justice and policy issues, and think critically about <br /> their role in potential policy and community development solutions through exploration of the <br /> arts and community-based research pedagogies developed in partnership by the NRC and the <br /> University of Notre Dame through their longstanding Engaging Youth, Engaging <br /> Neighborhoods program. <br /> City government can directly benefit from the input of the youth in our community by <br /> developing a concept of positive youth involvement and providing an educational partnership <br /> with schools and other youth serving community-based organizations in the City of South Bend, <br /> Indiana. <br /> 1 <br />