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City of South Bend <br />Common Council <br />441 County-City Building ● 227 W. Jefferson Blvd <br />South Bend, Indiana 46601 <br /> <br /> <br /> (574) 235-9321● Fax (574) 235-9173 ● TDD (574) 235-5567 ● http://www.southbendin.gov <br /> <br />NEWS RELEASE <br />Subject: Youth Advisory Council <br />Date: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 <br />From: Councilwoman Karen L. White <br />Contact: Councilmember, Karen L. White <br />kwhite@southbendin.gov 235-5985 <br /> <br />Wednesday, June 29, 2022 Youth Advisory Council Update <br /> <br />The South Bend Common Council recognized the importance of creating a structure <br />for youth to provide input and learn how to participate in the civic process. Similarly, <br />the city government can directly benefit from the input of the youth by encouraging <br />and engaging positive youth involvement. <br /> <br />In 2003, the Council passed an ordinance which created the Youth Advisory Council. <br />The Youth Advisory Council was highly active for a number of years. Unfortunately, <br />our ability to meet in 2019-2021 was impacted due to COVID-19 restrictions. We <br />were pleased to reconvene the Youth Council in the fall of 2021. <br /> <br />In November 2021, 11 high school students from the city of South Bend were sworn <br />in. These students were highly engaged and offered their perspectives, ideas, and <br />feedback freely. They were able to build their self-esteem, leadership, advocacy, and <br />professional development skills in addition to learning more about our local <br />government. <br /> <br />The Youth Advisory Council has convened multiple times throughout the year <br />participating in many exercises, discussions, and events to better sharpen the student’s <br />decision-making and leadership skills. These events included participating in a team- <br />building escape room, bowling at Strikes and Spares, gaming at the Bendix Esports <br />Arena, learning everyone's respective roles in a proper city council meeting, and <br />going through an educational bus tour learning all the different aspects and history <br />that make up the city of South Bend. <br />Four of the eleven students recently graduated and will be attending Indiana <br />University South Bend this Fall. The city council will be recruiting incoming high <br />school students for the Youth Advisory Council, reconvening in September 2022. For <br />additional information, please contact Councilwoman Karen L. White at <br />kwhite@southbendin.gov or visit the website at <br />https://southbendin.gov/department/common-council/youth-advisory-council/. <br /> <br />### <br />Sharon L. McBride <br />President <br />Sheila Niezgodski <br />Vice President <br />Canneth Lee <br />Chairperson, Committee <br />of the Whole <br />Canneth Lee <br />First District <br />Henry Davis, Jr. <br />Second District <br />Sharon L. McBride <br />Third District <br />Troy Warner <br />Fourth District <br />Eli Wax <br />Fifth District <br />Sheila Niezgodski <br />Sixth District <br />Karen L. White <br />At Large <br />Rachel Tomas Morgan <br />At Large <br />Lori K Hamann <br />At Large