The Florida League of Cities (FLC) has announced three winners of the 2024 Municipal Youth Council Community Service Contest. The winners are:

  • City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council
  • Orange City Youth Advisory Council
  • Mayor’s Youth Corps and Leadership Council in the City of Tampa.

The annual competition showcases community service projects performed by municipal youth councils that successfully address specific needs in their local communities.

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.

 

The Orange City Youth Advisory Council organized a Reading in the Park event during February’s I Love Reading Month. More than 60 families joined them in the park. The event promoted literacy and fostered a sense of community engagement and unity among residents.

In Tampa, the Mayor’s Youth Corps and Leadership Council volunteered at Trinity Cafe, a sit-down restaurant for individuals who are homeless and food insecure. The wait staff, as well as the hosts, are volunteers. The purpose of the project was to wait on customers, make conversation and better understand the realities of food insecurity in Tampa.

“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!”

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.

For more information, visit flcities.com/municipal-youth-councils.

FLC Announces Winners of Council2College Scholarship

Two winners have been selected for the Council2College Scholarship based on an essay contest sponsored by the Florida League of Cities (FLC). The winners are:

  • First place: Beatriz Salim, Apopka Youth Council
  • Second place: Olivia Arevalo, Cape Coral Youth Council.

The Council2College Scholarship is based on an essay contest that assists Florida municipal youth council leaders who are pursuing post-high school education. The first-place winner receives $500, and the second-place winner receives $250.

The FLC scholarship is open only to youth councils sponsored by a city, town or village government that is a member of the FLC. The councils also must be active in the League’s youth council programs. Applicants must be graduating during the current school year. For more information, click here.

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