Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson is looking for candidates to fill seats on the city’s first youth council.
The council will serve as an advisory board to the mayor on issues affecting youth in the community.
What issues they address will be entirely up to them, Nicholson said.
“My goal is to encourage them to think about what issues we are facing as a city, then decide what issues they want to tackle,” he said.
Being part of the youth council, students will establish connections and learn how networking can help accomplish tasks and goals.
“With the help of our city employees and volunteers, we will help make sure they are equipped to do so,” Nicholson said.
The council will consist of 12 members and up to three alternates, appointed annually, from Seymour High School, Trinity Lutheran High School, Sandy Creek Christian Academy and home-schooled students.
“I am looking for youth that are not afraid of asking the hard questions and are willing to put some work into seeing our community be an amazing place to live and work,” Nicholson said.
The inaugural council will serve during the 2020-21 school year.
Like the city council, the youth council will meet twice a month and members are required to participate in at least 13 of 16 meetings from September through April.
Applications are available by emailing [email protected].
The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. April 30.
Council members will be tasked with developing a Seymour Youth Summit to showcase what they have accomplished in their year of service.
“It promotes civic commitment and community volunteerism, and gives our youth a voice and an opportunity to get involved in city government,” Nicholson said.
The idea to start a youth council is one he began formulating during his time on the city council. While earning his Municipal Management Certificate from the Municipal Management Institute, Nicholson said a youth council was mentioned as a tool other Hoosier mayors have used with success.
“I decided then I would do it in the future,” he said. “We are all quick to acknowledge we have a brain drain, but most of us are not willing to ask the youth why they leave. This is a chance for some of the youth to tell us what they see for our future and be involved in shaping our future.”
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Applications for the Mayor’s Youth Council are now available by emailing [email protected].
The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. April 30.
All 9-12 grade students from Seymour High School, Trinity Lutheran High School, Sandy Creek Christian Academy and home-schooled students are eligible.
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