BEAUMONT, Texas — A group of Southeast Texas teenagers will represent Beaumont at an upcoming conference in Dallas while learning how to become future leaders.
Members of the Beaumont Youth Council Program will represent the city at the Texas Youth Advisory Commissions Summit. The group drove off from Beaumont Early College High School Friday.
The next generation of leaders is going to Dallas for the two-day conference. During their visit, students will meet other youth councils from across Texas.
The teenagers hope to hone their skills to become leaders and learn what it takes to run a city.
"We want to get out to other kids that it's important to know we have a voice and our voice is going to count," Kathryn Barboza, Beaumont Early College High School senior, said. "Cause in a few years we're going to be the voices in the big chairs."
The Beaumont Youth Advisory Council is made up of students from six different high schools. Eighteen students hold positions ranging from economic development officer to city manager.
Barboza holds the title of economic development officer. She feels the council is giving her hands-on experience with local government.
"What we can do in our city, current things happening, things we may want to happen, but also our council we take an opinion from everybody," Barboza said. "So, whether we're talking about public safety, we're talking about homelessness, things we can bring to our environment, I kind of give in put on that. It's really nice."
While serving on the youth council, the students learn how city government works. The main purpose of the council is to encourage future leaders.
"Kind of take in the different opinions of different kids throughout our cities,” Barboza said. “Not just from where I live, not just from my friend group, but from the different schools through the different areas."
The program teaches problem-solving and teamwork.
"And it kind of takes these opinions of the different students to see what we can do to further develop our city economically," Barboza said.
The youth advisory council will go to Dallas for their first statewide youth advisory commissions summit to represent Beaumont. The students are excited to learn.
"For this conference, I'm actually looking forward to meeting some of the new council members," Isaac Torres, Southeast Texas student, said. "Like from other cities because, since our council is so new we haven't really gotten to interact with other students and see what they do."
Torres is the 'mayor' of the youth group. He feels his role has been challenging and rewarding.
"Responsibility is a really big deal, especially with such a high position you can't be slacking and then have the people that are following after you, or following your footsteps lead in that direction," Torres said.
The next youth council meeting will take place on February 9, 2023 at 4 p.m. at Beaumont City Hall.