[Archived] City Council Kicks Off New Youth Development Program


News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:	Monday, April 5, 1999
Contact:	Angelita Plemmer, City Manager's Office, (703) 838-4300; Meg O'Regan, Director, Department of Human Services (703) 838-0712

City Council Kicks Off New Youth Development Program

Alexandria City Council will kick-off a major new youth development effort, Community YouthMapping, and honor the Alexandria Youth Council, at a reception prior to the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 13, at 6 p.m. in Room 2000 at City Hall, 301 King Street, Alexandria.

Community YouthMapping is a project of the Youth Council and is endorsed by Alexandria City Council and the Youth Policy Commission. The project will begin this summer and involves sending out teams of well-supervised young people to identify the Places, Faces and Spaces that foster positive youth development in the City. They will compile accurate information about places to go and things to do in both the public and private sectors, including businesses, churches and City and School programs, building a database accessible to young people and their families. These teams will walk through the neighborhoods of Alexandria, from Old Town to Landmark Center, and from Cameron Run to Four Mile Run.

There are 30 localities nationwide, including Baltimore, Md., Hampton, Va. and Newport News, Va., that are currently involved in various stages of YouthMapping.

"YouthMapping is intended to create knowledgeable young leaders who are ready to articulate a youth view to the public and foster a new and positive relationship between youths and adults," said Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donley. The City already has identified resources to fund more than half of the YouthMapping program costs this summer and is seeking sponsors in the private sector to support the rest of the program. Already, the firms of Eakin/Youngentrob, Simpson Development Company and IDI Group Companies, along with the William D. Euille Foundation, have offered their support. The Alexandria Youth Council is an arm of the City's Youth Policy Commission, chaired by Mayor Kerry J. Donley. As the brainchild of Vice Mayor William D. Euille, the Youth Council was established to give a voice to young people in the City and to facilitate dialogue among youth from a variety of different backgrounds.

The Youth Council also has elected its first slate of officers, who will be installed at the reception by Mayor Donley and Vice Mayor Euille. The officers are: Greg Bilyk-President; Barry Watkins-President-Elect; Kadia Karoma-1st Vice President; Lauren Ellis-2nd Vice President; Kemi Ojumu-Financial Secretary; Max Monge-Corresponding Secretary; Chris Sims-Recording Secretary; Darryl Watkins-Sergeant at Arms; Monique Lyons-T.C. Williams Representative; Adrian Duncan-Minnie Howard Representative; and Camille Haley-Hammond Representative.

"We are proud to be part of the ceremony that honors the Youth Council and their leaders," Vice Mayor Euille said. "It is an opportunity to highlight their positive achievements and the tremendous assets they bring to the City."

Companies and organizations that are interested in supporting the Youth Mapping program are encouraged to contact Meg O'Regan, Director, Department of Human Services, at (703) 838-0712.