Olympia committee approves framework for inaugural Youth Council  

The Olympia Community Livability and Public Safety Committee has approved the recommendations presented by youth advisors, paving the way for the inaugural Youth Council to take shape.  

In a unanimous vote, the committee approved the advisors' proposed recruitment timeline, interview process, and leadership structure for the new youth council. The Olympia Youth Council will serve as a platform for local youth to engage with local governance and collaborate actively with elected officials.  

According to recommendations from advisors, the Youth Council will be structured with a chair, chair pro-tem, and subcommittees – mirroring the format of the Olympia City Council.  

Three subcommittees 

Youth advisor Willow Chen said the advisors felt it was necessary to create three subcommittees to allow for more effective contributions from the diverse voices involved.  

The first subcommittee is called Operations, and it will focus on the administrative tasks of running the youth council, such as meeting management, finances, and onboarding new members.  

The second is the Outreach subcommittee, which will handle the external-facing work of communicating with the community and connecting youth to opportunities.  

The third is the Policy subcommittee, representing the youth council and youth perspectives in conversations with local government. 

Chen explained that splitting the work into these three focused areas will increase productivity and allow the youth council to accomplish more, in alignment with their mission, vision, and purpose.  

Timeline 

Another Youth advisor, Shruthi Lingam-Nattamai, outlined the timeline recommendation for appointing the 2025 Olympia Youth Council. She said the advisors recommended the following: 

Aug. 14 – Applications open  

Aug. 17 – Recruiting event 

Sept. 11 – Applications close 

Sept. 12 – Candidate review begins 

Sept. 18 or 19 – Interviews 

Sept. 25 – CLPS approves recommendation to the city council for appointments  

Oct. 8 – City Council appoints the 2025 Youth Council  

Nov. 6 – Youth Council onboarding begins (Nov. 6, 13, and 20) 

Jan. 15, 2025 – First Olympia Youth Council meeting 

In addition to the recommended timeline, the advisors asked for the CLPS's approval to hold a youth engagement and recruitment event at Percival Landing Park.  

Youth advisor Nolan O'Connell explained that the community engagement event they plan to hold on Aug. 17, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. will provide a space for local youth to collaborate and share ideas in a relaxed and welcoming environment. The event will feature live music from youth bands, an art exhibition and community mural from youth artists, yard games, and youth speakers. 

The advisors also recommended appointing all current 2024 Olympia Youth Council advisors who commit to returning as Youth Council members in 2025.  

"Many of the current 11 youth advisors already showed interest in participating in the Youth Council, and they are a major part of the interviewing review process," Lingam-Nattamai told the committee.

She also asked that a panel of current Youth Council advisors and Mayor Pro-Tem Yen Huynh lead the review and interviews of applicants.  

The advisors also asked for approval for a set of specific questions to be used in the interview process, including the segment of Olympia's youth the applicant is representing, and the skills/experiences they have.  

Gavin Cruz, one of the youth advisors selected to help with the planning phase of the inaugural Olympia Youth Council, presented the group's accomplishments to the committee. He explained that what started as an idea by two high schoolers has turned into significant progress over the past year.  

The youth advisors have held eight meetings, in total both in-person and hybrid, at the city chambers. They have helped develop standard operating procedures for the future Youth Council. This work includes establishing the council's mission "to amplify and elevate youth voices in city governance and expand youth involvement in the community." The advisors have also articulated a vision for Olympia as an "accessible, equitable, inclusive, safe, and engaging community for everyone."