FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 29, 2021

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Continuing his efforts to create a more inclusive San Diego and elevate the voices of young people at City Hall, Mayor Todd Gloria returned to his former high school today to announce the reinstatement of the City of San Diegos Youth Commission. The Commission, which has been defunct since 2015, is charged with identifying critical issues affecting youth in the City of San Diego and advising the Mayor, City Council and City staff on those issues.

Our young people are not just our future -- they're also our present. They deserve to have a voice at City Hall and that is why we are bringing back the Youth Commission, said Mayor Todd Gloria. My experiences as a young person in politics were incredibly valuable and I encourage young people to apply to serve on the Commission. We want to know how San Diego can better serve you today and into the future.

Established in 2002, the commission last met in 2015, before Mayor Gloria took office. The Youth Commission will facilitate the participation of teenagers and young adults in local government, as well as provide City officials an opportunity to hear and address their ideas and concerns.

The Commission will meet at least four times a year and be composed of 20 members that are 14 to 22 years of age and reside in the City of San Diego.

"Youth offer an invaluable perspective on the world that can benefit everyone. Unfortunately, the value of their insight is often dismissed, especially when it comes to City decisions, said Councilmember Elo-Rivera, a longtime youth advocate. I applaud Mayor Glorias decision to reinstate the Youth Commission, a critical venue for young voices to advise City officials on matters affecting San Diegos youth. As we move forward to restore the Commission, we must work to ensure that it is structured to prioritize youth, and that it offers young San Diegans a meaningful and accessible opportunity for input on important City matters.

The City plans to have its first meeting of the Commission this fall after commissioners are appointed by Mayor Gloria and the City Council.

"Our youth are our eyes and ears in our neighborhoods. Theyre the ones shooting hoops at the parks. Theyre the ones reading books at our libraries. And theyre the ones walking to school on our sidewalks," Councilmember Cate said. Investing in our youth will lead to a better tomorrow. I commend Mayor Gloria for ensuring youth voices are heard and restoring the Youth Commission.

"As a former teacher who thinks about his former fifth graders every day, I know just how important it is to give our youth a role in shaping policies and programs that affect them, said Councilmember Raul Campillo, representative for the 7th Council District. By including our youth in our government, Mayor Glorias action makes our government stronger. I look forward to seeing and implementing the ideas and recommendations that the Youth Commission will provide our City in the years to come.

The reactivation of the Youth Commission comes as the City has made considerable efforts under the Gloria administration to support young people including creating the Office of Child and Youth Success, allocating city dollars for summer youth programming currently ongoing at city parks and recreation centers, and securing investments to bolster youth employment through Connect2Careers.

Applicants for the Youth Commission should be residents of the City of San Diego between 14 and 22 years old. Those interested in applying can do so at https://onboard.sandiego.gov/.

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