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.

Name	Race & Gender	Term	EXPIRATION	School Represented
Ghufran Abd	W/Female	1	6.30.23	Parkland High
Ava Banner	W/Female	2	6.30.23	Reagan High
Makayla Beard	AA/Female	2	6.30.23	Mt. Tabor High
Lucy Blackman		1	6.30.23	Reagan High
Nasi Bongweni	AA/Female	3	6.30.23	Career Center
Gracie Brown	AA/Female	1	6.30.23	East Forsyth
Litzy Castillo-Olivera	Hispanic/Female	3	6.30.23	Career Center
Max Chen	Asian/Male	1	6.30.23	Atkins High
Aranza Cortez-Arana	Hispanic/Female	1	6.30.23	Winston-Salem Prep
Tristan Dawson	AA/Male	1	6.30.23	Parkland High
Michael Gallagher	White/Male	2	6.30.23	Atkins High
Serenity Heckstall	AA/Female	1	6.30.23	Winston-Salem Prep
Jennifer Menjivar Mejia	Hispanic/Female	1	6.30.23	Mt. Tabor High
Kyah Newton-Roseboro	AA/Female	1	6.30.23	Walkertown High
Jayla Page-Thomas	AA/Female	1	6.30.23	Middle College
Leah Raiford	AA/Female	1	6.30.23	Carver High
Daniel Reyes	Hispanic/Male	3	6.30.23	Reagan High
Nattapat Ruangrat	Asian/Male	1	6.30.23	Mt. Tabor High
Britney Speaks	AA/Female	1	6.30.23	Walkertown High
Nicolas Spencer	AA/Male	1	6.30.23	North Forsyth
Jacob Taylor	AA/Male	4	6.30.23	Early College
Jada Taylor	AA/Female	1	6.30.23	Early College
Addison Truzy	AA/Female	4	6.30.23	Reynolds High
Madysun Williams	AA/Female	1	6.30.23	Mt. Tabor 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.