The Placer County Board of Supervisors is accepting applications from youth who wish to serve on the newly-created Placer County Youth Commission, an advisory board to the Board of Supervisors.
At the request of Supervisor Jim Holmes, the Board of Supervisors gave its unanimous support May 12 to the formation of a 15-member Youth Commission composed of youth between the ages of 14 and 21 years (or entering the ninth grade in the fall) that will draw membership county-wide with representation from each of the five supervisory districts. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30.
“Young people who want to create positive change in their communities feel that they should be a part of the governmental process to truly have their voices heard on issues affecting them and their peers,” Supervisor Holmes said. “The Youth Commission will help young people from different backgrounds and social environments to connect with professionals from those agencies and organizations that provide youth services, with local government, and with the community as a whole.”
The University of California Cooperative Extension of Placer County will be the lead agency working in partnership with Placer County Department of Health and Human Services to manage the Commission.
“These joint efforts will give tomorrow’s leaders an opportunity to begin leading today and better prepare our youth to become responsible and active citizens,” Supervisor Holmes said.
Currently, there are more than 100 city and county youth commissions in California. The movement recognizes that giving youth an authentic voice in local decision-making benefits both youth and the greater community.
In El Dorado County, for example, the youth commission helped write a Green Resolution and supported its successful passage. It sets forth goals to lessen the environmental footprint of county residents in areas including waste and energy usage reduction, planning, construction and air quality.
Becoming involved in a different way, the Pomona Youth Advisory Committee is working with the city and agencies serving youth to develop a youth and family master plan to promote youth health and safety. The committee is also partnering with the City Clerk’s office and Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Voter Education Division to expand the Student Poll Worker Training to six local high schools. They have also organized a “Rock the Vote” voter education event and helped bring more youth voices into city decision making.
Youth that would like to serve as Commissioners for the 2009-2010 term are encouraged to apply. For more information or an application visit, click this link: Youth Commission or contact Shannon Dogan, Youth Commission Advisor, at placercoyouthcommission@gmail.com or (530) 889-7392. Applications may be submitted by email to placercoyouthcommission@gmail.com, faxed to 530-889-7397, or mailed to UC Cooperative Extension, Attention Placer County Youth Commission, 11477 E Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603.