by Rebecca Makar

NLC encourages municipal officials to bring youth ages 15-18 to the 83rd Annual Congress of Cities and Exposition in Reno, Nev., Dec. 5-9.

As part of NLC?s continuing effort to promote youth participation in local government, youth delegates can attend workshops on issues affecting their own cities and towns. By engaging in dialogue with both local officials and other youth, they will gain information that can inspire discussion and action at home.

Youth from cities as diverse as Los Gatos, Calif.; Ankeny, Iowa; Farmington Hills, Mich.; and Tampa, Fla., are already registered for the conference. Approximately 150 youth are expected to attend.

Opportunities to Connect
The City of Reno plans to host the youth in grand style. The Reno Youth Council is busy planning activities throughout the conference, including hosting the annual NLC-sponsored Youth Social on Friday night, Dec. 8. Reno?s youth council is also arranging youth social opportunities for Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

NLC staff and Reno Youth Council members will assist youth delegates at the youth headquarters area, which will be open each day of the conference. It will serve as a home base and message center where youth delegates can ask questions, meet up with friends and plan daily activities.

Because the youth voice can enhance the conference experience for all participants, NLC encourages youth to attend workshops and general sessions, raise questions and converse with other delegates throughout the conference.

Youth-Only Sessions
There will be several youth-only sessions. A Youth Delegates Orientation will be held on Thursday morning, Dec. 7, and a Youth Delegates Forum will be held on Friday, Dec. 8, as an overall training session and discussion on how to strengthen youth participation in local government.

On Saturday, Dec. 9, there will be a special ?Bridging the Generation Gap? breakfast to allow time for interaction between youth delegates and municipal officials from around the country.

At last year?s Congress of Cities in Charlotte, N.C., Clarence Lacy Jr., a high school senior from Hampton, Va., said at the Saturday breakfast that he ?never would have guessed I?d be able to make friends in half a week from places all around the country. I realize now that we are all facing similar issues, even when we live in such different cities.?

By bringing youth to this year?s Congress of Cities, municipal officials can offer this extraordinary experience to tomorrow?s future leaders.

Details: For information and advice for youth delegates and chaperones, visit www.nlc.org, or contact Rebecca Makar at (202) 626-3046 or makar@nlc.org.

Youth are also encouraged to use NLC?s Youth as City Leaders website to ask questions, share reflections on last year?s Congress of Cities and check out information from youth in Reno, which will be posted as the date of the conference approaches. To access the website, go to www.nlc.org/iyef, click on ?Networks & Assistance? under ?In This Section,? then click on ?Youth As City Leaders Network.?