City Wide Youth Government Has Second Meeting, Identifies Issues To Tackle

Andrew Trzaska | April 23, 2011

Over a dozen young adults met Thursday at Muskegon City Hall to continue to organize and plan strategies for dealing with problems in the city.

Called the City Wide Youth Government, the brainchild of city commissioner Clara Shepherd fleshed out its leadership and broke up into several committees this week.

Students that are part of the City Wide Youth Government (CWYG) come from several different school districts, including Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, Orchard View and Muskegon Catholic.

According to discussions at the March 31 meeting of the CWYG, the group is “designed to create a positive avenue for young people to express their concerns for their community as well as take on the issues they face as young citizens of Muskegon County.”

Shepherd’s creation of the CWYG comes with continued support from her as leader and city government liaison.  As stated by Shepherd during Thursday’s meeting:

“We’re going to pledge to clean up our community. I will get out there and help you.”

Three groups divided up eight topics that affect young people in the city: Violence, job opportunities, substance abuse, bullying, education, sexual behavior, recreation and loitering.

Each group was tasked with coming up with ideas for youth to improve each of those situations in the city, with plans to present them to the city commission on May 9.

Adult advisors were assigned to each of the three groups to aid in the process.

A group tasked to brainstorm on fundraising ideas was also created.

The group’s future initiatives already include a task to organize and get out the word about this year’s End of School Bash that will occur on June 9, the last day of school in Muskegon.

Described as a positive alternative to fighting and other activities that have happened on the last day of school, the End of the Year bash will include food, dancing and several basketball events, including a 3 on 3, 5 on 5, dunk and three point shot competitions.

The City Wide Youth Government meets the third Thursday of every month at 5:30 in the commission chambers at Muskegon City Hall.