New Mayor’s Youth Council opens applications

The city of Sioux Falls is looking for high school juniors and seniors to join the first Mayor’s Youth Council.

The group is open to private, public and homeschooled students, and the hope is to connect young people to city government and build a network of youth leaders citywide.

The Mayor’s Youth Council will provide its members a voice on community issues as they learn about city government and develop leadership skills through a coordinated community project.

“Historically, young people have not had a voice at the table in city government, and building a Sioux Falls for everyone needs to include our youth,” Mayor Paul TenHaken said.

“Ultimately, we hope the Mayor’s Youth Council will provide students with not only knowledge about local government and community topics but also allow them to gain leadership skills to benefit their academic career and their future.”

The program commitment includes a kickoff event, seven sessions from mid-October through mid-May from noon to 1:30 p.m. and a closing celebration.

TenHaken will kick off each session with a Mayor’s Minute and ask students to provide input on current issues in the community.

Sessions will have a focus on city government and other community issues, including public safety, government and education, innovation and technology, and business and industry. Sessions will include local leaders both in city government and across the business and private sector. Students will be asked for their input on a variety of topics and community issues.

Applications are due by Sept. 15. Apply and find more information here.

The city is looking for student leaders who have an interest in making a difference in the community and in local government, with the goal of selecting a diverse group of student leaders with a variety of experiences from across the community.

The application asks students to respond in short-answer form about the pressing issues concerning youths in Sioux Falls, what excites and concerns them about their future, why they want to be a part of the Mayor’s Youth Council and why they make a good candidate. Students also will be asked to give an idea about a program or project they would like to see in the community and what they could do to help bring it about.