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Youth Advisory Council reviews year of service; veterans honor graduating members
Summary
Apache Junction’s Youth Advisory Council presented its year‑end report May 6, detailing tours, volunteer events and more than 400 hours of community service; two veterans auxiliaries presented certificates to graduating members.
Members of the Apache Junction Youth Advisory Council delivered a year‑end presentation May 6 outlining their activities, volunteer hours and plans for recruitment as several members prepare to graduate.
Recreation Coordinator Jody Dutra, who oversees the program, said the council was created in 2016 to give teens a voice in local government and opportunities to develop leadership skills. The council’s president, Jake Gerardo, summarized the board and officers and reviewed events and tours the group attended.
Gerardo told the council the YAC participated in state youth programs, attended a teen leadership symposium, visited Central Arizona College and ASU, toured local public safety facilities and volunteered at community events. Council members listed volunteer events including the holiday program, Halloween festival, Shop with a Cop, Superstition Mountain Food Bank, a mud run and Make a Difference Day. “Altogether, the YAC members have volunteered over 400 hours of community service,” presenters said.
Dutra introduced the group’s board and noted 11 members are graduating; the youth council plans an active recruitment push including classroom presentations, tabling at events and a teen survey adapted from another city. The council also described a student art competition for a traffic box across from Apache Junction High School; five submissions were to be voted on with a $100 prize for the winner.
The meeting included a recognition segment: two veterans auxiliaries — Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary 7968 and auxiliary 9399 — presented certificates of achievement to graduating YAC members. The council and mayor paused for photographs and thanked the youth for their service.
