Committee approves appointments to Olympia Youth Council 

The Olympia Community Livability & Public Safety (CLPS) Committee approved appointments and reappointments of 20 people to the Olympia Youth Council (OYC) for the 2026-27 term.  

The committee endorsed the appointments at a meeting on Aug. 26. The appointments will be forwarded to the Olympia City Council for final approval.  

Youth Council Chair Donovan Jojola said the new term marks a major transition in youth leadership, with a large majority of the founding members stepping down.  

Fourteen new members are recommended for appointment, while six current members are recommended for reappointment to provide continuity. The OYC received 21 applications this cycle.  

City staff reported applicants brought a wide range of interests and experiences, including student government, civic engagement, youth leadership, the arts, athletics, STEM, environmental work, technology and community service.  

Jojola described the incoming members as individuals who bring a diverse set of experiences, ideas and perspectives.

“We aim to get people from all across the community with different socioeconomic backgrounds, health conditions, lived experiences that can shape the way that we make decisions and work as a group,” said Jojola to the committee.  

The OYC was established to amplify youth voices in city government and increase involvement within the community.  

Jojola said the council aims to represent Olympia’s diverse youth population and promote a city that is accessible, equitable, inclusive, safe and engaging. 

Over the past year, OYC worked with youth councils in Lacey and other communities to strengthen involvement across the county.  

Members also hosted a joint youth summit, worked with Intercity Transit and city staff on a public service announcement encouraging young people to use public transportation, and received briefings on Olympia’s sanctuary city and public safety policies.  

The youth council also developed recommendations for making city policies more accessible to youths and supported projects through the Youth Climate Action Fund, which will distribute about $5,000 in grants.  

According to Jojola, OYC has several projects planned for the coming year, including a youth council retreat and new member orientation in September, a mental health resources briefing and development of its 2027 work plan.  

The council also plans to explore “third places” for youths — accessible spaces where young people can gather, connect with their peers and build community outside of school.  

Jojoba said the effort could help address social isolation among young people and create more opportunities for youths to engage with one another.  

“We all know the loneliness crisis among youth is a huge issue right now,” Jojoba said. “We are trying to tackle that by finding a place that is easily accessible for all youth.” 

Committee and Olympia City Council member Kelly Green congratulated OYC on the number of applications received. She asked how familiar applicants were with the council’s work.  

Jojola said applicants included both newcomers and young people who had followed the council’s projects and were eager to get involved.  

Committee and Olympia City Council member Yen Huynh also highlighted the youth council’s work, including its upcoming public service announcement with Intercity Transit.  

OYC liaison Susan Grisham said the public service announcement is expected to be released in mid-September, and will also be shown in local movie theaters.  

The recommended appointments and reappointments are expected to go before the city council on Sept. 15.