Danica Lamontagne will head the new program aimed at getting youth involved in city happenings. Also the city’s communications coordinator, Lamontagne is a Biddeford High School graduate. (Molly Lovell- Keely photo)
BIDDEFORD — The city of Biddeford is seeking applications for the first program year of the Biddeford Youth Advisory Council. The purpose of the Youth Advisory Council is to promote civic engagement among a younger generation of community members and to build a sense of belonging in Biddeford.
Members of the Youth Advisory Council will complete research and service projects related to issues they identify that affect youth in Biddeford. The group will report their findings to the Biddeford City Council.
“I designed this program so that the members themselves can take the lead in a truly youth-driven process,” said Danica Lamontagne, the city’s communications coordinator and staff advisor to the program. “I want the group to work on subjects that they are passionate about and come up with creative ideas and solutions to the problems they want to see solved.”
The program is open to Biddeford youth entering grades nine through 12 this fall. In addition to Biddeford High School students, applications will be accepted from Biddeford residents who are homeschooled or who attend a private high school. Like the city council, the program will include representatives from each of the city’s wards.
“High school students are able to bring a different perspective to government, and we wanted to create a program that would allow us to capture their input,” Lamontage said. “Even though they may not be able to vote in elections, their opinions as residents of Biddeford are still important when it comes to making decisions for the future of the community.”
Lamontagne, a Biddeford High School graduate, said there were no opportunities such as the Youth Advisory Council when she attended, but she wished there had been.
“When it comes down to it, I think every city issue affects youth,” she said. “They are residents of the community just like everyone else. Young people absolutely have opinions on the parks in their community, what should happen to the waste that we’re disposing of, what kinds of businesses they would like to see come to Biddeford, and more. I can see this group working to promote the positive aspects of our community, and I think people’s perceptions of Biddeford is a huge issue that youth care about.”
The city council set a goal to formalize a process to include youth in local government in their 2018-2019 work plan.
“Decisions that are made at the city government level affect youth in the community just as much as adults,” said Councilor Amy Clearwater, council liaison to the program. “This is a fantastic opportunity for younger residents to have their voices heard on critical issues.”
Members of the inaugural group will begin their duties as youth councilors in July and will serve until June 2020. Students who are interested in applying to the program must complete the online application form by May 24. The city will work with the Biddeford School Department on direct outreach to students over coming weeks.
“I am hoping to gather a diverse group of students from different backgrounds so that we have many unique perspectives to draw from,” Lamontage said.
The city council and staff may suggest projects or topics to the youth council, but members of the group will have the final say in deciding what they work on.
“I do hope that our candidates are excited about government and come into the group in July with their own ideas for projects too,” Lamontage said. “In my research into other youth councils around the country, a lot of the work youth are doing is related to promoting the positive aspects of their hometowns, so I see that being a broad topic for projects. I think younger members of our community are very optimistic about the future of the community and will be excited to come up with ways to make the future even better. They may end up doing research or surveys, organizing events, doing public outreach – honestly, the sky is the limit for what ideas they want to come up with.”
Students will attend at least one city council meeting as part of their orientation process in July. One member will be voted in as chairman and will provide monthly updates to the city council on what the group has been working on.
Applications are available at www.biddefordmaine.org/BYAC. For more information on the program, contact Lamontagne at 282-8423 or Danica. lamontagne@biddefordmaine.org.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
