Mayor's Youth Advisory Commission tells Tempe Union board it prioritized mental health, civic engagement and sustainability

A leadership team from the City of Tempe's Mayor's Youth Advisory Commission (MYAC) presented its 2024'25 activities and recommendations to the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board.

Delana LaForce, the city's education and career empowerment coordinator and MYAC advisor, introduced student leaders who described four priorities MYAC selected this year: mental health, education and career readiness, community safety, and sustainability/environmental justice.

Razi Tabataadze, the commission chair, described membership and noted the group had roughly 30 high school students from Tempe and nearby areas. MYAC reported it certified several students in Youth Mental Health First Aid, held the Tempe Youth Talks event with more than 200 attendees, and ran an Eco Avenue thrift market to promote sustainable clothing practices.

On mental health, MYAC recommended increased promotion of staff mental-health resources and training. On education, student surveys emphasized STEM, environmental education, CTE and civic education; MYAC recommended more promotion of civic engagement and practical life skills in the curriculum. On community safety, the commission suggested targeted safe-driving education for student drivers and possible partnership with the city's Vision Zero traffic-safety programs.

Board members responded with appreciation and questions about how the district could support MYAC events and training. Vice President Steele suggested using district professional development time to deliver training; another board member recommended partnering with the district mental-health committee. MYAC members asked the board to attend events and help recruit more diverse membership from across Tempe Union campuses.

The board did not take formal action on the presentation but encouraged continued coordination between MYAC, the district and city partners.