MA first state to have a statewide youth council.
Posted May 6th, 2008 by nene719
On April 24, 2008 I had the pleasure of attending Governor Patrick's statewide youth council executive order signing. About a year ago the Governor visited Dorchester after a youth shooting. He was asked by a youth during this site " Why can't we have a voice in shaping the policy that affects us". That was the spark that lit the fire to start the statewide youth council. Governor Patrick is the first Governor making MA the first state to take a youth council to the state level. The council will meet at least four times per year and the Governor himself plans to attend some of the meetings. He is looking to get 2 youth ages 14-20 from each of the 14 counties of the state.
As a person who served on Boston's Mayors Youth Council many moons ago I know bringing youth advocacy, and youth empowerment to the table will be of value to our state. To see the Mayors of Boston and Quincy;our senators and youth from the UWMBMV footprint standing there with Governor Patrick all saying how important it is to hear the voice of our states future truly validated the work that we do here at UWMBMV. If you know of a youth that you think would be great on this council the application deadline is MAY 30, 2008. Encourage them to have their voice heard!
Correction
While Governor Patrick may be the first governor to establish a youth council in MA, we are not the first state to establish such a council. The following states all have state-wide youth councils:
Arizona
Iowa
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
Washington
I hope the Governor's office of Community Affairs will look to other states and use several of the national resources available for creating effective youth councils rather than re-inventing the wheel.
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