Youth council helps kids come out of shells, learn about the real world

After visiting with the mayor of Caldwell, Idaho, Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem and Ward 6 City Councilman Steve Ross saw the difference that a youth council made in the city. In an area where problems included violence and graffiti, Ross learned how involving young people in the decision-making process could change problems overnight.

As a result, he created the Northwest Youth Empowerment Council in 2011 to give Las Vegas youths a voice in their community.

“I’ve seen a change in these youths,” Ross said. “Some kids enter the council and come in shy and withdrawn. They don’t want to embarrass themselves or they want to be cool, but at the end of the year, they completely come out of their shell.”

The council is composed of one high school student from each grade level from the following Ward 6 high schools: Arbor View, Shadow Ridge, Centennial, Northwest Career and Technical Academy and Palo Verde.

Students from the Las Vegas Academy and Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy have also been given the opportunity to participate.

“We work with the schools to select a representative from each grade level, and they can stay on until they graduate or if, for some reason, they resign,” said Priscilla Scott, community program specialist for Las Vegas.

Elections for the council’s positions occur every June for the upcoming school year.

Students have the opportunity to run for mayor, mayor pro tempore and public information officer, among other titles.

The council runs year-round.

Despite being composed of high school students, the Northwest Youth Empowerment Council acts similarly to the Las Vegas City Council.

“We originally asked principals to find students who were on the edge of not wanting to finish high school or go on to college,” Ross said. “We didn’t want the valedictorians. Those kids already had a great future. After word got out to the rest of the student population, it morphed itself to include the top-notch kids of these schools.”

The council is in charge of choosing a different project each year for the nonprofit Youth Neighborhood Association’s annual Partnership Program grant.

This year, students focused on packing 300 bags to help the homeless youths and passing out food.

“It was an eye-opening project because a lot of teens complain about something as simple as having a broken phone, and at the event, we met a lot of people who were grateful just to get a sandwich or some ice cream,” said Casey Hyatt, student councilwoman from Shadow Ridge.

Last year, council members used their $1,000 award to help homeless students pay for expensive graduation attire.

In addition to the project, students are able to discuss issues that impact their community and create solutions, including neighborhood cleanups.

In the past, council members have been invited to sit in at City Council meetings, tour Zappos, tour the Mob Museum and visit Internet entrepreneur and venture capitalist Tony Hsieh’s apartment.

Northwest Youth Empowerment Council members meet the second Thursday of each month at the Centennial Hills Community Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

“Being a part of this has changed my life. I used to be really shy and I had low self-esteem,” said Darian Toth, student councilman from Shadow Ridge. “When I was having a rough time, the people here were there for me and helped me with anything I needed. We’re not just a council. We’re a family.”

For more information, call Ross at 702-229-6154.

To reach North View reporter Sandy Lopez, email slopez@viewnews.com or call 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.