Mayor's Youth Council members for 2019 announced

Friday, September 14, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the members of the 2019 Mayor's Youth Council, a group of 85 high school-aged youth committed to improving their communities and empowering other young people in the City. The Mayor's Youth Council (MYC) advises Mayor Walsh and members of his administration on policy and programming and were selected following an extensive application and interview process.

"I'm pleased to welcome our newest members of the Youth Council," said Mayor Walsh. "Boston's young people have a unique voice and perspective in our City and I look forward to gaining the feedback and advice of our youngest advisors."

Members of the MYC come from all across Boston and attend a variety of public, parochial, private and alternative schools. The MYC is a year-round commitment, and members devote eight to 13 hours a month to meetings, impact and service projects and engagement. The number of youth representing each neighborhood is based upon census data that indicates where young people live in Boston.

"Youth have the potential to be powerful agents of change," said Chief of Health and Human Services, Marty Martinez. "Through the Mayor's Youth Council, our young people will amplify the voice of Boston's youth and catalyze positive change throughout the community."

MYC representatives form issue-centric subcommittees based on input from youth and Mayor Walsh's cabinet structure. The current committees include: Arts & Culture, Education & Youth Lead the Change, Civic Engagement, Workforce & Economic Development, and Public Health & Safety. Twelve directors and deputy directors were voted in by their peers to lead the Council's committees.

"I feel very privileged to serve on the council because it gives me the opportunity to share my ideas and opinions on how to improve Boston," said Donna Gee, 16, of the South End. "I'm also meeting new people, and working on projects and developing a plan to involve the community."

In the past year, members of the MYC have worked on a variety of issues related to public safety, participatory budgeting, and civic engagement. The MYC provided feedback to the MBTA on their 5-year transportation plan and to the City's Go Boston 2030 transportation plan; guided the community input process for how the City of Boston spends $1 million of the City budget through "Youth Lead the Change" participatory budgeting; and led many discussions around current issues and events.

"I'm really excited to be serving again," said Matthew Wang, 17, of Dorchester. "I didn't know what to expect last year but I learned that we have a power that I didn't know we had. I'm excited to work on issues important to me like exploring pushing back school start times and creating more after school programs for schools."