In August 2008, Wellington Vice Mayor Carmine Priore was sworn in as president of the Florida League of Cities. In his first speech as president, he spoke about how students are receiving little or no civic education instruction in the classroom and cited surveys and studies showing that a large percentage of high school students know little about their governments. He made it his presidential priority to promote civic education and encouraged cities to create youth councils to educate this younger generation.
While many of Florida’s cities already have youth councils, we wanted to create a document that would serve as a “road map” for others wanting to start similar programs. These special citywide councils are composed of students from different high schools within the city and serve as an advisory board to the city commission/council. These students are the leaders of tomorrow and it is important to expose them to municipal government at an early age. We hope that your city will consider forming a youth council. In addition, the Florida League of Cities holds a Youth Council Program event every year at its annual conference. Information is posted online and in print in advance.
The Florida League of Cities would like to thank the North Carolina Civic Education Consortium for providing a template for this document. Additionally, the League would like to thank the following Florida governments for providing information on their youth councils: Dade City, West Palm Beach and Destin; and also Greene County, N.C.
Second Annual Municipal Youth Council Video Competition
The Florida League of Cities has announced the second
annual Municipal Youth Council Video Competition. The goal of the program is to
provide a way for Florida’s youth councils to showcase their ideas, creativity
and commitment to their community. This year’s awards program will focus on
videos designed to celebrate your city’s history and, more importantly, its
future. In commemoration of Juan Ponce de Leon’s arrival to Florida in 1513,
this year’s youth video competition is designed to complement the League’s
program themed, “History Happened Here: A
Celebration of the Great History of Florida Cities.”
The Florida League of Cities is seeking video
presentations that not only honor a city’s heritage, culture and history — but
also focuses on the ideas that best illustrate where your city may be tomorrow.
Entries are due on Tuesday, October 15, 2013. First,
second and third place winners will be announced in December 2013. All
municipal youth councils are encouraged to apply. Click
here to learn more and download the nomination form.