FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 20, 2024
CONTACT:
Clare Cloyd
Clare.Cloyd@ci.stpaul.mn.us
612-760-5074
City of Saint Paul welcomes ‘Youth on Boards’ members to several City boards and commissions
Youth members were appointed by Mayor Carter after participating in program to introduce young people to civic engagement and potential career pathways in local government
SAINT PAUL, MN - The City of Saint Paul today announced the addition of 19 new youth members to several City boards and commissions as part of the Youth on Boards initiative. Youth on Boards, a collaboration between Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, Right Track and Sprockets, introduces young people to civic engagement and potential career pathways in local government while providing Saint Paul boards and commissions with support and structure to actively include young people in the decision-making process.
The following youth appointees were approved this month by the Saint Paul City Council:
- Al Reiter, Climate Justice Advisory Board
- Alexis Lor, Labor Standards Advisory Committee
- Aliyah Yang, Parks and Recreation Commission
- April Eh, Capital Improvement Budget Committee
- Eh Ler Shee, Neighborhood Safety Community Council
- Elena Lodhaseng, Business Review Council
- Iyannah Burns, Saint Paul Children's Collaborative
- Jamesha Richards, Parks and Recreation Commission
- Kaitlyn Hang, Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission
- Kalisha Yang, Climate Justice Advisory Board
- Kasia Yang, Labor Standards Advisory Committee
- Makayla McCaster, Neighborhood Safety Community Council
- Mui M Da, Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission
- Nardos Ashenafi, Capital Improvement Budget Committee
- Olivia Robins, Business Review Council
- Paw Mu Thaw, Advisory Committee on Aging
- Rory Vang, Advisory Committee on Aging
- Sernay Than, Business Review Council
- Zaryah Mosby, Neighborhood Safety Community Council
“Our young people aren't waiting for the future; they are already defining it," said Mayor Melvin Carter. "Their experiences provide perspectives essential for a prosperous community. Through Youth on Boards, our emerging young leaders are empowered to make space for the next generation to move us forward."
The youth appointees participated in the Youth on Boards Summer Academy, a paid internship through Right Track that equips young people with essential skills for serving on boards and commissions. After completing the eight-week program, graduates are prepared to step confidently into their civic leadership roles on a City board or commission.
“I’m focused and passionate about seeing change within our communities,” said Kasia Yang, youth appointee to the Labor Standards Advisory Committee. “I want to take inspirations from the commissions and relay my knowledge for better things. I’m excited with the opportunities I’ve received while being with Youth on Boards. I’ve taken a huge step into learning about the boards and commissions through Saint Paul and want to inspire others to join too.”
In addition to the 19 new members announced today, 14 previously appointed members are actively serving on their respective boards and commissions, including the Planning Commission, Transportation Committee, Financial Empowerment Community Council, and the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities. For more information on the Youth on Boards initiative, contact Stephany Aguirre Lopez, Youth Leadership Program Manager, at Stephany.Lopez@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
About Right Track
Right Track is Mayor Carter and the City of Saint Paul’s youth employment initiative for building Saint Paul’s future workforce, while supporting young people and their families now. Right Track addresses changing labor force demographics and education and employment disparities by connecting young people from cost-burdened homes to summer and school year internships, training them for personal and professional success, and helping employers prepare for, recruit and mentor the next generation of diverse talent.
About Sprockets
Sprockets, Saint Paul's out-of-school time network, is a citywide system coordinating afterschool and summer learning opportunities and building connections between in-school and out-of-school learning. Sprockets works to increase the quality, availability, and effectiveness of out-of-school time learning for all youth in Saint Paul through the committed, collaborative, and innovative efforts of community organizations, government, schools, and other partners. In addition to the Youth on Boards initiative Sprockets is also home to the Saint Paul Youth Commission and supports partners across the city in increasing youth voice and decision making.
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