McComb, MS: Mayor's Youth Council Strengthens Our Community

he Mayor's Youth Council (Mayor Zach Patterson, McComb, Mississippi) has been actively involved in strengthening our community since its inception in April of 2008. The thirteen young people on the council represent all the area high schools. They have been developing their leadership skills through formal training and a number of volunteer community service projects, and they have a developing slate of events scheduled for the rest of the year.

Training for McComb's youth council members began with the first annual MML (Mississippi Municipal League) Statewide Youth Leadership Summit in Hattiesburg on May 1, 2008. Members also attended the 77^th annual MML Youth Track conference in Biloxi on June 24. Additional training has included the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service three-day leadership camps in Vicksburg and Florence, MS. They have also received public speaking training from the Toastmasters of Pike County.

Mayor's Youth Council members at the MML Youth Track conference in Biloxi, with McComb Mayor Zachary Patterson. Photo by Cornelia Gayden.

Members participated in the Keep Pike County Beautiful Great American Cleanup on two occasions in the spring, and they recently partnered with United Blood Services to assist in their blood drive projects. A major community service project continuing through October 10, 2008, is the 1,000 Toothbrushes Project for the American Red Cross. Members of the public are asked to donate new, unopened toothbrushes. The donated toothbrushes will be placed in comfort bags to be used in the event of a disaster. Drop-off locations are McComb School District's Tiger Activity Complex (TAC), McComb Sports Park, and the main offices of McComb and North Pike High Schools.

Upcoming events planned for the Mayor's Youth Council are the following:

*Monday, Sept. 22 at 5:30 PM-Officers and members will be introduced at the city board work session, at which the officers will make a formal presentation.

*Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 12 PM, Days Inn of McComb-Officers Donovan Hill and Morgan Smith will give a formal presentation to the Kiwanis Club of Pike County.

*Saturday, Oct. 4 at 8:30 AM, Edgewood Park-Members will turn in the money they have raised for the March of Dimes and will participate in the March for Babies.

*Saturday, Nov. 1, Edgewood Park-Members will operate a teen awareness booth at the Camellia City Festival.

*Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2:00-6:00 PM, Tiger Activity Complex (TAC)-- Members will operate a teen health and wellness awareness booth for the Student/Community Health Fair.

An important goal of the Mayor's Youth Council is increasing communication between the city's young people and the city council members. Youth members, with the support of adult mentors, develop and lead community initiatives affecting young people. Members also train and involve their peers in service leadership.

As an expression of association with the city board, the Mayor's Youth Council meets at the Tiger Activity Complex (TAC) on the second and fourth Mondays at 7 PM, the same time city work sessions are held. Cornelia Gayden is the steering committee chairman. Officers are as follows:

Chairman: Donovan Hill, McComb High School
Vice Chairman: Donnisha Young, North Pike High School
Secretary: Charlene Green, South Pike High School
Parliamentarian: Morgan Smith, Parklane Academy
Historian: Quartavia Winding, McComb High School

New members of the Mayor's Youth Council. Photo by Cornelia Gayden.

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