SANFORD —
While many high school students are having fun over the summer, a group of students in Sanford are making some decisions that could change their city.
“A lot of people don’t think of teens as contributors to Sanford’s community, or any community in general, and I really want to question why not?” said Amelia Green, a senior at Seminole High School.
Mayor Jeff Triplett invited students at both of Sanford’s high schools to apply for the city’s first-ever Mayor’s Youth Council. School administrators then selected 12 students.
“To not only learn about democracy and the city, but also learn a little bit about themselves and the societal issues they’re going to have to live with in the future,” said Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett.
The first project the youth council is taking on is an event they hope will bring local law enforcement and young people together.
“Seeing the stuff on the news, I think it would be good to build a bridge between law enforcement and the youth because of all the bad things that are going on across the United States,” said Taryn Perkins, a junior at Crooms Academy of Information Technology.
The mayor is there to help guide the students every step of the way, but the students are the ones making the decisions.
The youth council also hopes to implement some environmental initiatives for the city, like adding recycling cans around town next to the regular trash cans. The council is also planning a job fair designed to help students and local businesses.
“We know where Sanford wants to go and we’re trying to help it get there. So as long as we keep going on that path, I know Sanford can be positively impacted by this group,” said Green.
The students will continue working with the Mayor’s Youth Council during the upcoming school year before another group of students takes over next year.