HomeMy WebLinkAboutPress Release 06-29-2022 Youth Advisory CouncilCity of South Bend
Common Council
441 County-City Building ● 227 W. Jefferson Blvd
South Bend, Indiana 46601
(574) 235-9321● Fax (574) 235-9173 ● TDD (574) 235-5567 ● http://www.southbendin.gov
NEWS RELEASE
Subject: Youth Advisory Council
Date: Wednesday, June 29, 2022
From: Councilwoman Karen L. White
Contact: Councilmember, Karen L. White
kwhite@southbendin.gov 235-5985
Wednesday, June 29, 2022 Youth Advisory Council Update
The South Bend Common Council recognized the importance of creating a structure
for youth to provide input and learn how to participate in the civic process. Similarly,
the city government can directly benefit from the input of the youth by encouraging
and engaging positive youth involvement.
In 2003, the Council passed an ordinance which created the Youth Advisory Council.
The Youth Advisory Council was highly active for a number of years. Unfortunately,
our ability to meet in 2019-2021 was impacted due to COVID-19 restrictions. We
were pleased to reconvene the Youth Council in the fall of 2021.
In November 2021, 11 high school students from the city of South Bend were sworn
in. These students were highly engaged and offered their perspectives, ideas, and
feedback freely. They were able to build their self-esteem, leadership, advocacy, and
professional development skills in addition to learning more about our local
government.
The Youth Advisory Council has convened multiple times throughout the year
participating in many exercises, discussions, and events to better sharpen the student’s
decision-making and leadership skills. These events included participating in a team-
building escape room, bowling at Strikes and Spares, gaming at the Bendix Esports
Arena, learning everyone's respective roles in a proper city council meeting, and
going through an educational bus tour learning all the different aspects and history
that make up the city of South Bend.
Four of the eleven students recently graduated and will be attending Indiana
University South Bend this Fall. The city council will be recruiting incoming high
school students for the Youth Advisory Council, reconvening in September 2022. For
additional information, please contact Councilwoman Karen L. White at
kwhite@southbendin.gov or visit the website at
https://southbendin.gov/department/common-council/youth-advisory-council/.
###
Sharon L. McBride
President
Sheila Niezgodski
Vice President
Canneth Lee
Chairperson, Committee
of the Whole
Canneth Lee
First District
Henry Davis, Jr.
Second District
Sharon L. McBride
Third District
Troy Warner
Fourth District
Eli Wax
Fifth District
Sheila Niezgodski
Sixth District
Karen L. White
At Large
Rachel Tomas Morgan
At Large
Lori K Hamann
At Large