By Camm Ashford
Members of the Mayor’s Youth Council registered voters on Jan. 17, Chattanooga’s annual Martin Luther King Day of Service.
“Thank you to some of our Mayor’s Youth Council kids that were able to come out and get people registered to vote on this MLK Day of Service,” Mayor Tim Kelly said. “Thank you to every partner that was able to help today and thank you to those who donated to some of our wonderful organizations in Chattanooga. We are so thankful for your desire to serve your community.”
The annual MLK Day of Service was launched in 2014 at the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy as a “day on, not a day off,” where Chattanoogans were encouraged to come together and work on community-oriented service projects.
Past projects have included a clean-up at the Historic Beck Knob Cemetery, painting and cleaning of local childcare centers, neighborhood beautification and litter pickups, among others.
The Mayor’s Youth Council is a diverse and engaged group of approximately 44 high school juniors and seniors from across Chattanooga who share their ideas and their concerns about issues young people face today. From advising the mayor on key priorities to acting as a liaison between the school hall and city hall, the students work together to give a voice to young people across various communities.
Participating Schools include: Baylor School,
Brainerd High School, Central High School, Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences, Collegiate High, East Hamilton High School, Girls Preparatory School, Hixson High School, Howard High School, Ooltewah High School, Signal Mountain High School, Silverdale Baptist Academy, The Baylor School, The McCallie School and The STEM School.
The Mayor’s Youth Council is open to all high school juniors or seniors who reside in the city of Chattanooga–that includes students who attend public schools, private schools, or are home schooled.
If interested, contact Shelby Glover at (423) 643- 7666, or sglover@chattanooga.gov.