Buckeye Youth Council showcases rock art, care packages and 75 'kindness kits'

Buckeye Youth Council members told the City Council on April 15 that their yearlong projects aimed to connect residents across generations and meet basic needs in the community.

The youth council presentation included three senior projects and a committee project. Malia Davis, chair of the Buckeye Youth Council, described “Rock the Block,” a volunteer-led rock-painting installation placed along Main Street, Fourth Street and Sixth Street intended to engage multiple age groups and create a permanent community art presence. Davis said she coordinated with the city arts and culture director and local businesses to site the pieces and solicited donated supplies to keep costs low.

Madeline Guy, a council member and chair of the civic engagement committee, reported she organized a “Treats for Troops” drive and partnered with Blue Star Moms and the American Legion Post to ship care packages. Guy said she sent 25 boxes weighing about 15 pounds each, exceeding her goal of 19 boxes; two larger boxes were packed for the border.

The council’s civic engagement committee also assembled 75 “kindness kits” of toiletries and hygiene items targeted at homeless teens, which members distributed to local school nurses and planned to coordinate with shelters. Guy said the kits included shampoo, toothbrushes, feminine products and contact information cards listing local help resources.

Youth council members described the projects as learning experiences in project planning, outreach and partnership development with businesses, nonprofit volunteers and city staff. They asked the council to consider sustaining similar youth-led initiatives and noted plans for an April 26 community art walk featuring culturally inspired activities.

The council did not take formal action on the youth presentations; the items were presented for information and recognition.