May 24, 2019 – Twenty members from Mayor Tom Henry’s Youth Engagement Council have concluded their 12 month commitment to the program and graduated on Thursday during a ceremony at the University of Saint Francis.
This year’s service-learning group attended conferences focused on youth leadership development and networking, including the Aim Youth Leadership Summit and the Climate Leadership Summit. During Aim Youth Service Day, they sorted and distributed food at Community Harvest Food Bank, one of many service projects they participated in. They also initiated the recent “Say No to O’s” Opioid Crisis Seminar to provide a safe, welcoming atmosphere for youth and their parents to learn how the opioid crisis might impact their lives, how to get help and how to avoid becoming a victim of the tragedy.
The following Youth Engagement Council members graduated Thursday:
Sophia Ahmad
Fatima Aishaibani
Brittany Bowers
Cydney Bridges
Berenice Cruz
Connor Davidson
Kathleen Ellingson
Lily Fountain
Ciena Higby
Sophia Horn
Mackenzie Igney
Noah Johnson
Nicole Meyer
Victor Pacheco
Matthew Quintos
Lex Skekloff
Matthew Strachler
Joseph Straley
Zachary Trocchio
Hannah Wallace
“Since the formation of my Youth Engagement Council, we’ve had group after group of talented high school students getting involved, learning how they can make a difference in Fort Wayne, and engaging their peers to help create an atmosphere in which they would like to live,” said Mayor Henry. “I wish our graduates the best in all that they do and encourage them to continue their leadership role in our community. They are our future.”
MYEC is a service learning group comprised of high school sophomores-seniors from the City of Fort Wayne. The members provide a voice for the youth of Fort Wayne to local government by engaging their peers, creating innovative solutions and working on projects. More information about the Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council is available at www.cityoffortwayne.org/myec.html.