Sacramento students present local solutions on food access, safety, mental health and the environment at City Hall

Eighty-two students from Sacramento City Unified, Natomas Unified and Twin Rivers Unified school districts presented research and proposals to the Sacramento City Council during the annual Summer at City Hall program, urging the council to promote youth-led action on food access, safety, mental health and environmental issues.

The presentations, organized by Sarah Musser, recreation general supervisor with the city’s Youth Parks and Civic Engagement (YPSI) program, showcased nine student groups that surveyed peers, produced public-service videos and pitched concrete local interventions — from community gardens and supermarket advocacy to youth peer-support groups and river cleanups.

The program matters because it channels classroom work into civic engagement and gives council members direct feedback from residents under 24 about problems that affect neighborhoods across the city. Students and council members repeatedly discussed ways the city could amplify existing programs and direct funding toward local, youth-driven efforts.

Students presented…