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Committee advances resolution to declare July 16, 2026 'YDO Day' honoring Youth Development Organization
Summary
The committee voted to send a resolution to the full Lawrence City Council recognizing the Youth Development Organization's 20 years of mentorship and programming and to designate July 16, 2026 as an honorary YDO Day. Youth speakers and councilors praised the program's STEM, arts and mentoring work.
The Ordinary and Intergovernmental Relations Committee voted June 23 to send a resolution to the full Lawrence City Council recognizing the Youth Development Organization’s (YDO) 20th anniversary and recommending that July 16, 2026 be declared an honorary YDO Day.
Young participants and alumni told the committee they have benefited from long‑running YDO programs based at 15 Union Street. “We stand here before the ordinance committee today to request a YDO day to honor the 20 years of mentorship towards the youth in Lawrence,” said Milena Castillo, who said she has taken STEM, woodworking, theater and other courses through the organization.
Isabella Moore, another young leader, told councilors YDO has served thousands of Lawrence residents and supports high‑quality STEM and arts opportunities that help students pursue college and careers. Maya Maldonado described serving as an assistant and teaching a winter‑term class and said the program trains near‑peer mentors who then lead summer programs.
Councilors praised the organization’s long‑term mentoring role. One councilor said the city has not sufficiently recognized YDO’s contributions and urged the council to support the resolution and consider more regular recognition and assistance. The committee voted to forward the resolution with a favorable recommendation; the full council will consider the item at a later meeting.
The committee discussion also included requests that the city consider ways to support YDO’s financial needs going forward; no specific funding action was taken at the committee level.
