January 6, 2003

National League of Cities
 

The National League of Cities has selected Galveston as one of eleven cities nationwide to receive a technical assistance award, made possible by the MetLife Foundation, to develop city strategies for increasing the civic engagement of young people. The cities were selected from a pool of 67 cities from across the nation that applied to participate in the MetLife Foundation Youth-City Connection project.  NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education, and Families will provide the technical assistance to the eleven cities.

“Cities and towns all over America are finding that they have a lot to learn from young people,” said Don Borut, executive director for the NLC.  “This project on youth participation will help municipal officials make substantial contributions – not only to the lives of young people in their cities and towns, but also to the cities and towns themselves.”

Mayor Roger Quiroga said the city is proud to be selected as one of the recipients of the MetLife Youth Participation Award.  "We look forward to the assistance we will receive from professionals that will help us kindle interest from our young adults in their city government.”  

To spearhead the planning efforts for the youth summit, Quiroga has designated the Mayor’s Youth Participation Advisory Group as the lead committee.

The City of Galveston’s Grants and Housing Department was instrumental in developing the application submitted to the NLC.  

“This is a program to show our youth how important they are to their community and to demonstrate to City leaders the need for youth to participate in the community development issues of Galveston,” said Sterling W. Patrick, grants director.  

The city staff members that contributed to the grant proposal were Patrick, Alice T. Law and Michelle Mickens. The staff worked with the City Families, Children, and Youth Board to develop the youth participation concept.

The Mayor’s Youth Participation Advisory Group along with FCYB, various youth organizations, and service providers will coordinate the planning efforts for the Youth Summit.  

“The City of Galveston Families, Children and Youth Board is honored to participate with the City of Galveston and its youth to develop a Teen Summit that reflects the interest and welfare of our future leaders,” stated B. J. Herz, Chairman of the FCYB. 

The Youth Summit will be a venue planned by youth for youth to present their platforms to the City leaders. During the planning process for this project, Galveston will receive individual attention from the NLC staff and experts.  All of the cities will also have the opportunity to network with each other and learn from their respective experiences.

“Receiving the grant from MetLife is great!” quoted Noah Skaggs, a student at Galveston College.  “It’s a wonderful and healthy step to insure the future of Galveston.”   Noah began serving on the Families, Children, and Youth Board during his senior year in high school and has participated in the planning process for the Youth Summit.

Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation, said, “We are encouraged by the response to this project.  It is clear that cities all across the country share out commitment to listening to young people.  We commend the eleven MetLife Foundation Youth-City Connection sites for taking action based on what young people have to say.”

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