The city of Evansville, Indiana should establish a Youth City Council for the purposes of creating a diverse and united voice, engaging youth in municipal government entities, and instilling values of servant leadership in the future generation of city changemakers. 

A Youth City Council is a body of youth (elected or chosen through an application process) who advise the local officials, boards, and government agencies. These individuals may also identify and pursue community service-based initiatives when they see fit. A mutually beneficial relationship develops from the incorporation of youth voices in local, democratic processes and service projects. Elected and appointed officials are introduced to a new perspective while the youth are provided an opportunity to be the voice of the unrepresented youth of the community. The Florida League of Cities, a member of the National League of Cities, explained, “It is vitally important that they [the youth] are vested with the knowledge, skills and abilities to be the next generation of local leaders. Youth councils are an excellent means of doing so because they promote regular and active civic engagement among youth.”

The new decade has proven that implementing a plan to establish a Youth City Council in Evansville, Indiana is incredibly important to the stability and equitability of our community. Although the youth of Evansville are not considered constituents of elected officials, their voices and their ideas will embody the diversity and nuance needed to implement real change.