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Last year several youth organizations, residents and community groups began an effort to get the city to invest more money into youth services, an area that had been cut drastically in recent years. I participated in a rally in front of City Hall, right before the last budget was finalized. During the completion of the budget in June of 2013, the City Council approved $25,000 to be used for the development of a Youth Commission or a Youth Council. This could be a great way for youth to have a formal voice in City Hall, become more involved in their community and find out what is going on.
So far no Youth Commission or Youth Council has been created. The City Council did create a Youth Task Force, made up of youth and adults, that was supposed to decide on the structure of a commission or council. The City Council handpicked the youth on the Task Force. The adults were representatives from the Parks and Recreation Board and Josh Pedrozo, who sits on the Task Force as a representative from the school district. [Ed Note. At a late August City Council meeting, Merced leaders have revisited the idea of forming a Youth Council. More details, including how young people can apply to be a part of the council, are said to be coming soon.]
I attended the last of two Youth Task Force forums on Saturday, March 1. The forum was advertised about a week before it happened. There were less than thirty people in attendance. The bulk of the meeting involved brainstorming ideas that the Task Force and attendees wanted to see in Merced, like better communication with the city staff, more chain stores, more activities for youth and a broader awareness of what is already going on in Merced.
The most important idea I heard at the forum was to encourage youth to be more aware and involved in the community by doing a better job advertising and exposing the youth programs already established. At the tail end of the forum, the idea of forming a council or commission was revisited but no decision was made and there has not been any follow up announcements on this issue from the city.
Other than the Youth Task Force and the potential for a council or commission, there are other existing ways for youth to get involved in the community. MOJO, or Mentoring Odd Jobs Organization, is an organization for young people that provides mentorship and a chance at gaining an income through doing odd jobs around town. MOP, or Merced Organizing Project, can help interested youth learn the fundamentals of community organizing and the power of advocating for issues they care about.
The Boys and Girls Club is one of the most well known places for youth in Merced. Unfortunately a lack of funds has forced them to cut back their services in recent years and currently they serve mostly elementary and middle school-aged youth. Older youth have opportunities as volunteer mentors and tutors. And of course, We’Ced Youth Media is a platform for young people to lift up issues that are affecting them and others in our community.
I spoke with fellow students at my high school, Merced High, to talk about their feelings about our community and getting more involved. My classmate Ariajh, 15, was not aware of our local government. Just like I was a few years ago, Ariajh was clueless. She was also unaware of the organizations that do exist around Merced, but as she learned more, she said she was glad to have youth programs in Merced.
