Lisa Goodwin, Deputy City Manager
www.facebook.com/YACColumbusGA/
To broaden the scope of youth leadership in Columbus, Georgia through voluntarism, service and initiatives that are directed towards allowing youth input into policy issues, identifying youth issues, and participating in the development of positive solutions.
Applications are provided to Elementary, Middle and High School Counselors for both public and private schools in Muscogee County. Applications are also posted on our Youth Advisory Council website. All applications are due not later than April 15th of each year. The incoming President of the YAC along with Adult Advisors come together to select 64 applicants from those that are submitted. We also receive appointments from the Mayor, City Council and the School Board that make up the additional 20 students.
Members attend public and private schools in Muscogee County.
Deputy City Manager
Yes, to both the City Council and the School Board
Yes, we recently had representation at the Ambassadors in Sneakers TransAtlantic Tour.
We have found that it is very important that parents not be allowed to attend meetings, events, etc. The youth are more apt to open up and participate when mom or dad is not around. It is also important to ensure that you have adult advisors to assist with helping to mentor and provide guidance along the way.
A Youth Advisory Council Member and one of our Advisors was selected to participate in a German-American Youth Exchange this past summer called the Ambassadors in Sneakers TransAtlantic Human Rights Academy. They spent two weeks in Germany and two weeks in New York and Birmingham, Alabama. The program centered around human and civil rights. We were thrilled to have been chosen to participate. Our Advisor actually served as a chaperone for the academy and worked very closely with the organizers.