Loading...
LTC 154-2020 Youth Commissioner Wins Florida League of Cities Council2College ScholarshipM IA M I BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER NO. LTC # 154-2020 LETTER TO COMMISSION To: From: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager Date: Ap ril 20, 2020 he Cit~,~m:ion Subject: Youth Commissioner Wins Florida League of Cities Council2College Scholarship The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to inform the Mayor and City Commission that City of Miami Beach Youth Commissioner Madeleine Gonzalez, who represents Commissioner Micky Steinberg, won third place in the Florida League of Cities Council2College Essay Scholarship and received $250.00. The Florida League of Cities Council2College Scholarship is an essay contest that assists Florida Municipal Youth Council leaders who are pursuing post high school education. Students were given the following prompt: Participants in youth councils can often improve the likelihood of admission to college by demonstrating commitment, volunteer efforts and leadership skills. Describe the most impactful experience you had on the youth council and how it has helped prepare you for college or a technical career institution. Students were asked to provide a 750-word essay. Please read Madeleine's essay attached. In the Fall 2020, Madeleine will begin classes at Florida State University. The Miami Beach Youth Commission is an advisory board of the city. The purpose of the youth commission is to provide the youth of Miami Beach with a vehicle to learn about government, participate in the process of city government, represent and articulate the needs of youth in the city, and provide recommendations to the mayor and city commissioners on issues and programs affecting the youth and teen population in the city. The Youth Commission is composed of seven voting members with the Mayor and City Commissioners each appointing one member as a direct appointment. To be qualified for appointment, youth must be enrolled in 10 , 11", or 12 grade, be a resident of Miami Beach, and demonstrate a sincere interest in municipal government, be motivated to contribute to the betterment of the city and have a background in community-based activity. If you have any questions regarding the City's Youth Commission, please feel free to contact Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld, Chief Learning and Development Officer. Attachment ar" Madeleine Gonzalez In my junior year of high school I was appointed to serve on the Miami Beach Youth Commission, an advisory board to the Miami Beach City Commission. The Youth Commission was created to give students an opportunity to learn about government, participate in the process of City government, represent the needs of youth in the City, and provide recommendations to the Mayor and Commission on issues affecting youth in the City. It all sounded very interesting to me, but I really didn't know exactly what to expect or what I would be doing when I was fir st appointed. After serving my one-year term, I asked to be reappointed for a seco nd term. I co uld see how much I was learning about local government and how the pro cess of governing works. W e were discussing and voting on issues of importance to teens and to the whole community, that would result in lasting change for the better. I could see that being a Youth Commissioner gave me the means to create opportunity for others. After my first year serving on the Youth Commission I worked with the commissioner who appointed me, and her aide, to create a program on civics and leadership for teens in my co mmunity. Vaping had already become a teen epidemic by the time a vape and smoke shop opened up across the street from my elementary school. The Youth Commission had been discu ssing ways to get teens to stop va ping, and was working on a health awareness campaign for the high school. But now there was a storefront vape shop opening up right near my former elementary school, that young children and their parents would pass every day on the way to school. The City Commission proposed legislation to create distance between any new smoke shops and schools. W e discu ssed it at the Youth Commission and supported the proposed ordinance, which was soon passed by the City Commission. W hile it did not close that particular shop, it made it more difficu lt for any other smoke shops in the futur e to open near any schools in our city. The Youth Commission also raised the issue that teens were having tro uble finding jobs in the city. The Youth Commission asked the administration to create a teen job fair for employers to hire teens in Miami Beach. The fair was a success and several teens found employment through the fair. Dur ing this year serving on the Youth Commission, I realized that not many students knew about the Youth Commission, or what it does. They also don't have much experience with local government. I came up with an idea for a program to intro duce teens to the Youth Commission, and to careers in public service thro ugh elected office and municipal govern ment. I also wanted to create opportunities for girls, so they could begin to see themselves in leadership roles. I worked over the summer with the commissioner who appointed me, and her aide, to develop a women's leadership pro gram for Girl Scouts at the City of Miami Beach. I invited teen Girl Sco uts to attend the fir st Youth Commission meeting in the fall, to see where the Youth Commission meets, how the Youth Commission does its work, what is required and how to apply to become a Youth Commissioner. Afterwards Girl Scouts met with women leaders in elected office and municipal government at the City of Miami Beach, to learn about their career paths and serving in elected office. They met with a sitting Commissioner, a former Mayor, the Chief of Staff to the cu rrent Mayor, a Police Captain, and the Assistant Director of the Office of Madeleine Gonzalez Environment and Sustainability, all women. My commissioner and I are planning to run the program again this fall, and hope to have more girls participate. Serving on the Youth Commission has given me the opportunity to apply knowledge and experience to addressing current community issues and concerns. I have become more confident and more comfortable speaking up and expressing my point of view. I have learned skills related to running a meeting, proposing ideas, and advocating for the needs of others. My experience on the Youth Commission makes me feel that my input, even as a high school student, has value, and that I can bring all of this forward into my college experience. A cf <i $e dà A • FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES April 16, 2020 Madeleine E. Gonzalez 3190 Royal Palm Ave Miami Beach, FL 33140 Dear Ms. Gonzalez: Thank you for taking the time to complete the application for the Florida League of Cities College2Council Scholarship. Our judges carefully reviewed each application. Congratulations! It Is our pleasure to announce you have received the Council2College Scholarship In the amount of $250.00. You are commended for your leadership, achievenments within your youth council and your commitment to your local urunily. The check for $250.00 will be mailed to the address provided on your application. We Invite you to stay In touch and we look forward to seeing all that you will accomplish In the future! Congratulations as you prepare to graduate from high school and for your continued success as you matriculate to the next level in your academic journey. We appreciate your work with your local youth council and are grateful for your involvement with our Florida League of Cities Youth Council Program. We wish you the best! Sincerely, Sharon G. Berrian Director, Membership Relations Florida League of Cities, Inc. L.OCAL VOICES MAKING LOCAL CHOICES 301 S. Bronough Street, Suite 300 Tallahassee, Florida 32301 P.O. Box 1757 Tallahassee, Florida 32302-1757 Phone: 850.222.9684 Fax: 850.222.3806 flcities.com