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High‑school co‑founders launch Waxhaw Youth Council to boost local civic engagement
Summary
Two high‑school students who helped form the newly approved Waxhaw Youth Council describe their origins, pilot‑year goals (volunteer projects, college/job prep and voter pre‑registration) and recruitment plans on the Roots and Relics podcast.
Two Waxhaw high‑school students who say they co‑founded the town’s new Waxhaw Youth Council described how the group began and what it plans to do in its pilot year. On the Roots and Relics podcast, the students said they want to recruit peers across local schools to work on volunteer projects, college and job preparation and voter pre‑registration drives.
The co‑founders identified themselves on the program as Michael Cannavo and Ashani and said they proposed the Youth Council after interning with town staff. "I'm Michael Cannavo," one said; the other added, "I'm Ashani, and we are both co‑founders of the Waxhaw Youth Council." According to the founders, an initial outreach to the mayor led them to the town clerk's office — identified in the conversation as "Barbie" and supported by staffers Gabriella and deputy clerk Brandy — where staff helped shape the council concept and recruitment plan.
Why it matters: the students framed local government as the level that most directly affects residents and said hands‑on experience can help young people understand civic processes. In their pilot year they plan to test programs and build continuity by creating an auxiliary tier for younger participants and training officers from among members.
Details and plans The founders described a 'pilot year' while applications are open and said they have used Instagram and physical flyers to recruit prospective members. They listed early project ideas including volunteering with parks, supporting business development efforts and working with the historic preservation committee. The council intends to include students from a range of schools — including public, charter and private institutions — and said it will not limit recruitment to a single high school or district.
On programming, the group plans mock interviews, college application assistance, job fairs and voter pre‑registration efforts. One founder said a previous in‑school pre‑registration drive at her high school "got over 70 kids," which the founders cited as evidence of strong student interest in voting once they turn 18.
Organization and continuity To promote longevity, the council plans an auxiliary membership tier with limited voting power for younger participants so they can transition into full members in later years. The founders said officers will be selected during the pilot phase, and emphasized training and teamwork over popularity in choosing leaders.
Next steps Applications for the first cohort are rolling, the founders said, and they invited students to follow the council's Instagram page or contact town staff for information. The podcast host encouraged the students to return once the council is active to share outcomes and recruitment progress.
