Published on: Wednesday, June 8, 2016 City Council & Mayor Blog

Community Conversation: Youth Success

Photo of Kate Stewart, Mayor of Takoma Park
Kate Stewart, Mayor of Takoma Park

From Kate Stewart, Mayor of Takoma Park

On June 18, as a community, we have the opportunity to come together – youth and adults – to discuss and plan the best ways for our City to support young people and help provide them with the skills and tools to navigate life’s challenges and build a stronger community.

Our youth are not only tomorrow’s world and local leaders, they are the cornerstone of today’s community and play an integral part in shaping our society. Ensuring opportunities for all our youth to succeed is a top priority, as the City Council plans for the future and looks to address the current needs of residents.

During the recent Council discussion on Priorities and the City budget, the Council and staff discussed what existing services are available – from the City, County, and a variety of community partners – and what we believe are some of the areas of need. We expect that the members of our community have some excellent insights and ideas that will help us better identify what the needs are and how the City can work to fill the gaps.

That’s where you come in!

Community Conversation: Youth Success

Please join us on June 18 in the Community Center from 12:30-4:00 PM. The meeting, the second in a series of Community Conversations on various topics, is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to learn about current programs and service offerings geared toward youth and families in our area, engage in a discussion about needs and gaps in what is currently being offered, and consider how the City of Takoma Park can work toward addressing those needs and gaps. In addition to City Councilmembers and local youth, subject matter experts from City staff and community organizations will be present to share information, respond to questions, and participate in the conversation. We have some excellent speakers lined up!

#Engage in the Conversation

During the event, there will be booths featuring some youth focused community organizations, refreshments, and prizes for participants. We’ll be utilizing technology and the hashtag #TkPkYTHsuccess on Twitter to receive and respond to questions and comments during the event, and to keep the conversation going afterwards. We’ll also be accepting donations of lightly used school supplies that we will pass along to those who might benefit from them, so as the school year wraps up please consider bringing any items you or your children may no longer have a need for.

The event promises to be educational, fun, and inspiring. We hope you will join us to participate in the conversation!