City of Alachua’s Youth Advisory Council wins Community Service Contest
Updated on June 6 with additional information from City of Alachua.
Press release from Florida League of Cities
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, announced the City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council as one of three winners of the 2024 Municipal Youth Council Community Service Contest. The annual competition showcases community service projects performed by municipal youth councils that successfully address specific needs in their local communities.
Municipal youth councils are special councils that typically serve as advisory boards to the local governments. They are composed of high school students within the city and are sometimes referred to as youth corps, teen advisory boards, or mayor’s youth councils.
“The volunteer work done by these youth councils to serve their communities is truly inspiring,” said FLC President Greg Ross, Mayor of Cooper City. “These future leaders identified powerful ways to help their cities, and they are setting an example for all of us who are working to improve our communities. On behalf of the League, congratulations to this year’s winners!”
The Alachua Youth Advisory Council’s mission was to provide for the essential needs of school-age children whose families didn’t have the ability or resources to provide for those needs. Members of the Youth Advisory Council reached out to local businesses and some national chains for donations, including dental supplies, soap, shampoo, socks, and first aid supplies. The council members determined the needs of each local school. Members organized and packaged the items and delivered dozens of bags of supplies to the schools.
“Working with the [Alachua] Youth Advisory Council has been really rewarding; I’ve never done a project of this size,” said Selina Liu, a graduating senior on the YAC. “Restoring Dignity was definitely my favorite part of my time with the Council.”
Liu has many reasons to celebrate alongside her fellow councilmembers, as she was also accepted into Harvard University. She plans to begin her studies there this fall.
The FLC will present a trophy in recognition of the YAC and their contest-winning project during a regular Commission meeting in the near future.
“We are just so proud of our Youth Advisory Council,” said City of Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper. “Year after year, these young people really challenge themselves to go bigger and bigger in their service to the community.”
The Orange City Youth Advisory Council and the City of Tampa’s Mayor’s Youth Corps and Leadership Council were also named winners in the statewide competition. Contest winners will receive a trophy and be featured by the League’s award-winning magazine, Quality Cities (QC), as well as on the League’s website and social media outlets.
For more information on the winning projects, visit flcities.com/youthcouncils.