Rekha Serres, introduced as the director of the Office of Children's Nurse, told the mayor and City Council that the Mayor's Youth Commission is recruiting for the 2025–26 school‑year cohort and seeking broader geographic and demographic representation.

The commission intends to serve high‑school‑age youth and is structured with youth and adult members serving multi‑year terms. "We have 20 youth who serve on the commission, we serve a 3 year term, and then we have 8 adults who also serve a 3 year term," Serres said. She and other staff described outreach to community‑based organizations, Denver Public Schools and library and recreation sites to reach neighborhoods that have been underrepresented in prior cycles.

City staff said the commission targets students aged about 14 to 18 and is emphasizing recruitment from across council districts. Serres said the office has received 134 expressions of interest via an initial Google interest form and 34 completed applications to date. She said the office will resend application materials to council offices to help with outreach and will offer a meet‑and‑greet for commissioners and council members on Sept. 17, with professional photos planned at the City and County Building.

Council members pressed staff on inclusion and barriers. Councilman Gonzalez Gutierrez asked whether there is space for youth who are active organizers but may have disciplinary or legal histories; Serres said the office is coordinating with community partners and that the initial Google interest form allows staff to follow up individually. On background checks, Serres said she did not have the specific screening criteria on hand and that the boards and commissions office “helps to to navigate that.” Council members requested follow‑up on background‑check scope and limits so the commission can eliminate unintentional barriers.

Serres said the commission moved to in‑person meetings after previous cohorts preferred meeting together but that the office will continue to evaluate remote participation options. "We were doing kind of a hybrid system kind of coming out of the pandemic, and it was the youth who decided they wanted to be in the room together to build that community and that kind of connection together," she said.

The presentation outlined leadership development, adult mentorship, citywide agency liaisons, peer‑city partnerships and participatory budgeting education as top priorities for the next year. Serres urged council members to refer candidates and to bring policy ideas to the youth commissioners for their input.

Council members welcomed the renewed focus on intentional recruitment. Several council members noted that some districts (Serres said there were no applications from districts 1, 2 and 3 at the time of the presentation) have been underrepresented and that the office is targeting outreach there.

The mayor and council applauded the presenters and paused the public portion of the meeting for a photo. Staff and council members said they will follow up on outstanding questions about application language, background checks and whether the municipal ordinance that governs the commission should be updated.