Youth Sought to Help Shape County Policy
The County of Santa Cruz is seeking teens and young adults ages 14 to 24 who have a passion for making a difference in their community to serve on the County’s first-ever Youth Advisory Task Force.
As part of the “A Santa Cruz County Like Me” project related to achieving diverse and inclusive advisory bodies, the Task Force will be comprised of 15 teens and young adults selected from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives. Participants will hold monthly facilitated meetings throughout the Santa Cruz County to learn about County boards, commissions, committees, and department advisory groups; identify the needs and concerns of teens and young adults; explore models of youth engagement in other jurisdictions; and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches and proposals.
Participants must live or work in Santa Cruz County and will have the option to receive a $75 stipend per meeting or earn community service hours. They must be able to attend monthly meetings in various locations throughout Santa Cruz County. Bus passes will be provided to help with transportation to and from meetings.
Applications to join the Youth Advisory Task Force are now open, with a submission deadline of September 20, 2024. The Task Force will meet for the first time in October 2024 and work together to make findings and recommendations. The County Administrative Office will then return to the Board of Supervisors with any recommendations based on the work of the Task Force.