The Atlantic Beach Youth Council filled backpacks with healthy snacks for food insecure elementary school children.
The Clermont Youth Council created hygiene care packages for the homeless population and partnered with the Clermont Police Department to distribute the bags.
The Pinellas Park TeenWorkX collected clothing, art supplies, games, hygiene products and more to donate to the local Safe Place 2B Youth Shelter.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE DAROZA
The Alachua Youth Advisory Council set up collection boxes in various locations to collect used baseball and softball equipment.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF CLERMONT
OUTREACH
Engaging Florida’s Youth
Students statewide participate in FLC youth council programs
E by Eryn Russell Florida League of Cities
ducating and engaging young people with the work of local government is key to cultivating the next generation of civic leaders. Composed of high school students, municipal youth councils are special citywide councils that typically serve as an advisory board to the local government. These youth council members are the future leaders of our communities. Throughout the year, students across the state participated in Florida League of Cities youth council programs to help foster Florida’s future municipal leaders. YOUTH COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICE CONTEST
Earlier this year, the League announced the winners of the 2021 Municipal Youth Council Community Service Contest. This annual contest asks youth councils to submit projects that address specific needs in their local communities. Five projects were selected as winners. The City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council collaborated with Guardian Ad Litem and the University of Florida to collect sports equipment donations for local foster children. Through an outreach plan developed by members of the Youth Council, they contacted local businesses, churches and other community organizations to set up collection boxes at locations throughout the City if approved. In total, the Council collected more than 200 sports items. The City of Atlantic Beach Youth Council partnered with Blessings in a Backpack to fill bags with food and words of encouragement for food-insecure children at local elementary schools. Each backpack included healthy options such as fruit, tuna, macaroni and cheese, cereal and peanut butter, as well as a few fun options such as fruit-flavored snacks and pastries. The Council exceeded their original expectations by gathering double the supplies necessary for the project. 64 QUALITY CITIES | THIRD QUARTER 2021
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
FEATURE
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF PINELLAS PARK
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