Youth Advisory Council (YAC)

Meetings

  • 5:30 p.m.
  • 4th Tuesday of every month

Members

Twenty appointed positions, and an unlimited number of alternate positions.

NameRace & GenderTermEXPIRATIONSchool Represented
Aidan McCarthy-ChairWhite Male3AnnuallyReagan High
Porsche Smith-Vice-ChairBi-Racial Female2AnnuallyWinston-Salem Preparatory
James Taylor-SecretaryBlack Male1AnnuallyEarly College of Forsyth
Tamara Smith-HistorianBlack Female1AnnuallyReynolds High School
Natalia AdamahBlack Female1AnnuallyMiddle College
Sunita AgarwalaWhite Female1AnnuallyBishop McGuiness
Cameron AllenBlack Male1AnnuallyPaisley High School
Ashley BondurantWhite Female1AnnuallyCarver High School
Daniel CancroWhite Male1AnnuallyBishop McGuiness
Celeste ColatoHispanic Female3AnnuallyNorth Forsyth High
Jajhayra Fonceca-RoqueHispanic Female1AnnuallyGlenn High
Samuel GrayBlack Male1AnnuallyKennedy High School
Melody JacksonBlack Female1AnnuallyWalkertown High
Vera KammHispanic Female1AnnuallyReagan High School
Catherine KingBlack Female1AnnuallyEast Forsyth High
Caitlin KinnamonWhite Female2AnnuallyMiddle College
Sean KirbyWhite Male1AnnuallyMiddle College
Brooke LackeyWhite Female2AnnuallyPaisley High
Easton MatthewsWhite Male1AnnuallyEast Forsyth High
Yvette Yoandra Munoz-SandovalHispanic Female1AnnuallyKennedy High School
Skylar PeddleWhite Female1AnnuallyGlenn High
Sasha SagarBlack Female1AnnuallyAtkins High
Jacob TaylorBlack Male1AnnuallyEarly College of Forsyth
Addison TruzyBlack Female1AnnuallyReynolds High School
Simran VadgamaBlack Female1AnnuallyAtkins High School

Mission

Serve as a conduit between city government and younger constituents. The Youth Advisory Council's core focus is youth civic engagement by way of community programming and youth-oriented activities; a contribution of at least 40 volunteer hours per school year to government-related initiatives, projects, and programs; the dissemination of information to the community regarding topics that are important and relevant to the youth in our community; and to advise the City Council and the Human Relations Department on matters that relate to the community's youth population.

Purpose

To provide a venue for youth between the ages of 14 to 18 to have an active means of civic engagement in local government, and become involved in the community by participating in community activities a minimum of 40 hours each year. General duties will include, but will not necessarily be limited to:

  • Actively promoting the participation of the youth in city government programs and activities;
  • Promoting positive human relations among all youth;
  • Providing channels of communication among all populations;
  • Encouraging youth to become better trained and qualified for employment opportunities;
  • Performing duties consistent with general law as may be assigned it from time to time by the City Council; and
  • Performing such other duties as necessary to enforce the powers assigned to it.

Annual Project

Each year, the Youth Advisory Council selects a project to complete by year end. This year the council is working on Public Service Announcements for youth in Winston-Salem about positive image and positive choices.

Past Annual Projects:

  • Baskets for Habitat for Humanity Families
  • Community Garden
  • Everyone Matters Day Celebration
  • Gift Bags for children at Brenner Children's Hospital
  • YAC PACKS, bags for Homeless Youth
  • Youth Expression Wall

Authority for Creation

The City Council unanimously approved establishing the Youth Council at its meeting on March 6, 1989.

Method of Appointment

The City Council, upon the recommendation of the Mayor, will appoint one student from each of the fourteen high schools in the system, and one student from six of the private schools, with membership open to all interested high school students.

Additional Information

Contact chief staff person Wanda Allen-Abraha, Human Relations Director, at 336-734-1226.

Newsletters

Access Youth Advisory Council (YAC) newsletters.

2019-2020 Youth Advisory Council