San Ramon Teen Council presents annual report; highlights mental-health outreach and senior tech days

The San Ramon Teen Council presented its annual report to the City Council on Tuesday, summarizing the year's projects and setting goals for the 2025–26 term.

Jessica Reber, staff liaison, introduced Teen Council Chair Tanushka (Tanishka) Chawla, who described accomplishments from a 17-member council that included five ad hoc committees and two alternates. Chawla said committees focused on teen wellness, a Teen Citizenship Award, senior technology days, a digital "wish tree" and an expanded ambassador program.

The Teen Council's wellness committee partnered with school wellness centers and campus events to promote connection and mental-health resources. The senior technology committee ran four Senior Technology Days at the Alcosta Senior Center to help older residents with basic tech issues and online safety. The ambassador program expanded to include representatives from multiple high schools and several middle schools, and ambassadors contributed outreach and supported committee projects.

The council selected Kenneth Sarif of Dougherty Valley High School as this year's Outstanding Teen Citizenship Award recipient for his nonprofit work with Books of Barrios; the report said Sarif donated more than 15,000 books and thousands of dollars in supplies to underserved communities.

Looking ahead, Teen Council's priorities for 2025–26 include continued partnerships to support teen wellness, maintaining senior technology days, strengthening the ambassador program, restarting a Teen in Action recognition page, exploring collaboration with the Arts Advisory Committee and improving social media outreach.

Mayor Armstrong and other council members thanked the teen members for their work and encouraged continued outreach with school administrators to boost engagement and representation from more schools.