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Macon-Bibb County GCAPS Youth Commission

Contact

Janice S. Ross, Clerk of the Macon-Bibb County Commission

Council Info
The Bibb County Board of Commissioners established its program in 2012 with a $3,750 grant from ACCG. The 2014-2015 cohort was the first under the newly consolidated Macon-Bibb County government.
25
16-18 (Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors)
$10K from the Macon-Bibb County Commission.
MBC General Fund, Annual Fund Raiser, and periodic donors/sponsors.
Monthly Learning Sessions
Throughout the government visiting different departments.
Selection Process

  1. Complete online application
  2. Face-to-Face Interview
  3. Recommendation by School Leader
  4. Orientation
  5. Complete Participation Agreements
  6. Commission Confirmation

City department responsible for overseeing the council

County Manager’s Office (Mayor & Administration).

Does group act as an advisory committee for your City Council and/or County Commission

No

Does group participate in overnight events?

Yes

Words of advice to share with cities considering the establishment of a youth council

Research best practices amongst other groups, but develop your program LOCALLY to fit the specific needs and objectives of your community.

Event Description

Metro-Atlanta and the surrounding areas in Georgia hosted the 26th Japan-America Grassroots Summit 2016 which took place October 4-11, 2016. The Summit aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between Japan and the United States by fostering grassroots friendships through a one-week cultural exchange program for all ages. The Macon-Bibb County Youth Commission was selected as host families for those Japanese Guests wishing to choose Macon as their home stay. Our Macon-Bibb Community hosted 15 high school students and 2 administrators from Oita Uenogaoka High School in southern Japan. The Youth Commission journeyed to Atlanta on Wednesday, October 5th to meet the Japanese students prior to the Opening Ceremony for lunch and share in their Atlanta tours to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights Museum. The Atlanta Tour continued with a visit to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The Japan-America Grassroots Summit Opening Ceremony was held at the Fox Theater, with speeches from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, the Ambassador of Japan Kenichiro Sasae, Consul General Takashi Shinozuka and other dignitaries. Other guests included Japanese Ambassadors Ichiro Fujisaki and Masahiro Kohno, and the descendants of Manjiro and Whitfield as well as Commodore Matthew Perry’s descendants. During their local session, the Japanese students participated in a Youth Leadership Summit at Middle Georgia State University. Macon-Bibb County and Middle Georgia State University Office of Career Services hosted the Third Annual Youth Leadership Summit. This year’s Summit included a dedicated symposium for Youth Advisors and two days of sessions for youth leaders. More than 100 students in youth leadership programs across Georgia worked on team building through classroom learning and other activities, strengthened their connection to local government, explored diverse careers, tested decision making skills as elected officials, and learned what to expect while preparing for life after high school. Speakers included representatives from governments in Georgia and South Carolina, from Macon-Bibb and Middle Georgia State University, and state and national organizations. On Sunday, all the Japanese guests across the state convened in Stone Mountain Park for a Closing Ceremony.