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Community Activities Commission presents 2025 work plan, seeks renewed youth participation
Summary
At a Jan. 21 special study session, the Community Activities Commission reviewed its 2025 work plan for the Newcastle City Council, emphasizing community‑building events, outreach and restoring two youth positions on the commission.
The Community Activities Commission (CAC) presented its 2025 work plan at a Jan. 21 special study session of the Newcastle City Council, describing a focus on community events, volunteer recognition and experimenting with new engagement strategies to broaden participation.
The CAC said the plan is intended to grow participation in city events that create a shared civic identity and to connect residents to local organizations and places. A word cloud drawn from the city’s draft comprehensive plan underpinned the commission’s message that community identity is formed through repeated shared experiences such as concerts, Newcastle Days and other gatherings.
Kim, speaking for the CAC, said the commission’s “connect” strategic direction emphasizes bringing people together, linking residents to sponsors and volunteers, and exploring additional gathering spaces and communication strategies. The CAC noted routine programming will continue (concerts, Newcastle Days, fireworks) and said it will look for ways to add complementary offerings at those events.
Council members asked about outreach to renters and youth representation. The CAC said its outreach is citywide and that staff and commissioners attend city events (for example, Newcastle Days and summer concerts) where they engage residents who live in rental housing. The CAC also suggested reaching out to apartment management companies (the presenter named Avalon as an example) to learn about available participatory spaces and partnership opportunities.
Council member Maria (first name used in the meeting) said she is exploring restoring two youth seats on the CAC that lapsed during the COVID period and offered to work with commissioners who are interested. Commissioners and council members noted the value of youth perspectives on planning events and encouraged renewed recruitment.
The CAC said its regular meetings are the second Wednesday of each month from 6–8 p.m. in council chambers and that commissioners can be reached through city email. The council received the presentation and had no additional action at the meeting.
The presentation and the CAC report are included in the council packet (page 37) and were discussed in the pre‑meeting study session.
