Blog

To paraphrase an old military recruitment line, we’re looking for a few good kids.

The Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office seeks about 200-plus motivated high school students to participate in the 41st annual Young Legislative Assembly (YLA), to be held March 11-13 in Raleigh. Qualifications include a high interest in how government works and a desire to work with fellow YLA members to draft legislation and determine whether it would improve the lives of fellow North Carolinians.

As any of the thousands of North Carolina youth who have participated in past YLA events will attest, this is no joke. Students need to be on their toes, dressed for business and familiar with both protocol and their committee’s proposed bill. They will spend much of their time defending or arguing complex ideas in some of the same meeting rooms used by elected legislators, and aided by some of the same experts and advisors who participate in official meetings and hearings.

And, when the work day is done, the networking begins – in the form of pizza parties, gaming and a dance with their peers at the Marriott Raleigh City Center.

Registrations will be accepted through Feb. 11, with seats filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit http://www.doa.nc.gov/yaio/youthcouncils-yla.htm for a registration form and a list of the 10 committees and proposed legislation from each.

If you watch certain broadcast networks or read the tabloids, you might think the only thing today’s youth care about is wearing the right clothes and partying their way to celebrity fame and fortune.

The 89 youth who gathered for last weekend’s State Youth Council Service Learning Conference know how to act their age and have fun – but they also know how to channel their energy into activities that benefit their communities.

Representatives from 10 councils across the state gathered in Durham for the annual event, which is coordinated by the Youth Advocacy & Involvement Office. It was launched with words of welcome and thanks by Durham Mayor Bill Bell and other city officials and leaders of youth organizations.

This year’s Service Learning project was held at CAARE Inc., a non-profit community-based provider of supportive services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their affected families. The State Youth Council donated 600-plus socks to CAARE Inc.

Students also sorted non-perishable food donated to the Backpack Buddy program. The program provides “kid friendly” foods to schoolchildren from low-income families on weekends when they don’t receive free or reduced-price school lunches and school breakfasts. Members also assisted with painting a victim’s shelter and prepared an area for a fall garden.

All that hard work earned the group well-deserved seats for the “Eagle/Aggie” Football Classic, held at the O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on the campus of N.C. Central University.   During the game, NCCU Chancellor Dr. Charlie Nelms recognized the State Youth Council and thanked its members for their contributions.