Magee’s Mayor Youth Council is up and running according to Mayor Dale Berry.
He said that there are three students from each grade level from Ninth through the Twelvth grade from Magee as well as Simpson Academy who are making up this year’s council for a total of 24 students.
Students in this year’s class include; Chandler Pittman, Brennon McNair, Maci Wadlington, La’Chyna Holloway, David Johnson, Mayko Mendez, Brayden Lambert, Mason Curlee, Kadin Adcox, Calder Reed, Kyle Brister, Anna Kaitlyn Ashley, Mollie Jones, Hanna Brace Ashmore, Anna Lauren Teasley, Bailey Sartin, Chrisanna Berry, Maddie Moody, Kylie Roberts, Cooper Carrico, Kyle Russell, Caleb Garner and Matt Mangum.
The council elected leadership from their senior student peers. Kyle Brister will serve as chairman, Bailey Sartin as Vice Chairman, Anna Teasley as Secretary, Palimentarian will be Kyle Russell and Kadin Adcox will serve as Historian.
The group will meet once a month and the next scheduled meeting is set for December 3 at 2 p.m. in the Magee Civic Center.
The students are given a project to work on and it involves businesses as well as business leaders from the community. Those who will be featured include; H. F. McCarty, Manley Magee, Cook Funeral Home, Pace Oil, McAlpin’s Department Store, Choctaw Drugs, Priority One Bank and R. L. Everett.
Simply stated the purpose of the program is to introduce the potential future leaders of our community into leadership roles. The program itself is sponsored through the Mississippi Municipal Association. Berry is re-implementing the program through his administration. Former Mayor Jimmy Clyde participated in the program with students while in office.
Students can hope to gain skills in community awareness, event training and management, public speaking and other commmunity service projects.
Depending on Mayor Berry’s goal the program can take on many varied shapes. They could hold an advisory council to the sitting board of the city. They could work to improve the image of the community and also be a base for community enhancement programs. They could hold their own mock elections and create a shadow program to learn more about municipal government.
As for now they are formed and we will soon see what their role will be in the future.
