The Olympia City Council took a historic step in empowering local youth on Tuesday, Oct. 29, by appointing 16 members to the inaugural Olympia Youth Council.
The new advisory body will comprise five newly appointed youth and 11 who previously served as youth advisors during the council's development.
Varshana Horback, Demorie Joseph, Eman Haroon, Stella Artemis, and Kaelyn Velazquez are the five newly appointed members of the Olympia Youth Council.
They will join the 11 continuing youth advisors: Allison Walker, Enrique Luis Rodriguez Lloyd, Eric Zhang, Gavin Cruz, Melinda Le, Nolan O'Connell, Shruthi Lingam-Nattami, Sophia Park, Toby Wilson, Victoria Liu, and Willow Chen.
Through establishing the Olympia Youth Council, the city says it aims to amplify the voices and perspectives of young people in Olympia.
"The Olympia Youth Council will increase the sense of belonging and value of the youth in our community as they contribute to the city and decision-making in a meaningful manner," Susan Grisham, assistant to the city manager, said.
Mayor Pro Tem Yen Huynh emphasized that the process prioritized youth voice, noting that even when adults had differing views, the city went with input from young people.
Huynh chairs the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee, which reviewed the recommendations for establishing the Youth Council.
She also highlighted the involvement of the youth advisors throughout the council's development. She acknowledged the collaborative effort of the city council, staff, consultant (Truclusion), and the youth themselves in bringing the initiative to fruition.
Councilmember Lisa Parshley encouraged the youth to remember their power, pointing to the Inheritance Resolution crafted by three high school students and passed by the city council.
"You have power… your voice has power in our community because you are the future, and we are working towards your future," Parshley said.
Drawing from his experience as a youth representative to his city council in high school, Councilmember Jim Cooper shared a piece of wisdom that he believes should guide the city's approach to the Olympia Youth Council.
"Treat the youth like you think should the adults, and treat the adults like you think you should the youth, and you will be right every time," Cooper said.
"Kids are the adults of the future, and we need to learn more from you," Cooper added.
Councilmember Dani Madrone acknowledged that the city council makes many important decisions that impact the future of young people, even though they cannot yet vote for the council members.
She reiterated that the Olympia Youth Council allows young people to be engaged and help the city make better decisions that will benefit their generation and future generations.
Mayor Dontae Payne sees the youth council as an extension of the city's equity work, allowing the city to benefit from young people's leadership and advice.
The mayor emphasized the importance of having people make decisions with the youth rather than for them without their input. He said he believes the youth council members can become future leaders, not just in the city but potentially at the state level.
The city council approved the appointments of the inaugural Olympia Youth Council members. The onboarding of the youth council members will begin on Nov. 6, 13, and 20, with the first official meeting scheduled for Jan. 15, 2025.
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