Shreveport City Council Approves the Creation of a Youth Council
In a recent move to address increasing youth crime in Shreveport, the City Council has approved the creation of a youth council. Proposed by City Councilman Alan Jackson, the council believes that this initiative could present a solution to the pressing issue as it encourages the active participation of youngsters in community development.
Youth Council Composition
The youth council comprises the student body presidents from 13 local high schools: Booker T. Washington, Caddo Magnet, C.E. Byrd, Captain Shreve, Green Oaks, Huntington, Northwood, Southwood, Magnolia School of Excellence, Woodlawn, Loyola, Evangel, and Calvary Baptist. This initiative not only puts trust in the potential of the young leaders but also provides a proactive platform to contribute towards their city’s progress.
Empowering the Youth
According to Jackson, the council presents an opportunity for the youth to voice their needs and input on how to battle juvenile delinquency. In his view, young people can bring their unique perspective to address the issue and devise innovative solutions. The councilman stated, “So many crimes are being committed by young kids that we have to raise up our youth leaders to give them a platform to help navigate kids back to the right track, but also help guide the adults on the things that they need in order to be more successful.”
Supervision and Objectives
The council will operate under the careful supervision of the Greater Shreveport Chamber, the Director of Council Affairs, and the African American Chamber of Commerce. The key idea is to have an inclusive and diverse representation in order to better serve the city’s future.
Drayden Dunn, the Vice Chairman of the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce, supported the legislation and program by stating the significance of youth representation, he observed, “we believe this legislation and program give representation to our youth, which is our city’s future.”
Timothy Magner, Greater Shreveport Chamber President, highlighted the struggle in keeping the young people engaged, interested, and invested in their community, hoping that the youth council initiative would be a start towards addressing this concern.
Councilman Jackson is hopeful about the program’s impact and believes that the experience both chambers have working with youth and programming, will be critical to the success and accountability of the council.
Next steps
With the council now approved, the student body presidents of the participating schools are to be briefed on the program with the aim of starting operations during the summer.
