On March 30 at 3:30 pm, the local soup kitchen on North Mulberry Street will have the aid of the Mayor’s Youth Council, an energetic group of 5th and 6th grade children specifically selected to serve and represent the city of Troy at area events.  Serving at the soup kitchen at the end of this month is one of many such opportunities the children have to be involved in community outreach.  

“All the credit goes to Mayor Jenkins. It was a brilliant idea,” Mayor Michael Beamish said. The Mayor’s Youth Council was formed under Mayor Peter E. Jenkins’ administration, in his second term in the late 1990s. It was during that time that current Mayor Beamish’s son served on the council as a 5th grader. “We believe strongly in our young people,” Beamish said, “The youth council has been a terrific program.”

Tim Davis and Grant Kerber were appointed by Mayor Beamish to be co-advisors of the current youth council. Tim Davis, a member of the Optimists club, was a “natural fit” according to Mayor Beamish. Children on the council are selected from Van Cleve Elementary, Miami Montessory, Troy Christian, and even local home school groups. “All our local schools are represented on the council, giving a lot of balance and perspective to the group overall,” Davis said. 20 children participate every year, there are 10 schooling groups represented, and 8 events for which the council helps to promote, serve, or facilitate. “We promote a lot of interaction between the children on the council and with people at events. It’s a positive experience for everyone and the kids do really well,” Davis said.

Events the Mayor’s Youth Council participates in include the Festival of Nations held in August on the levy, the Independence Day Celebration, the Centennial Day Parade, and the Strawberry Festival.  In addition, the Mayor has a “What’s Good About Troy” meeting with the children every year. In this meeting, the children are asked to respond with their thoughts about what can be done to make the city of Troy better. “It’s neat to hear their perspective. They usually talk about bringing their favorite restaurants to the city,” Davis said. “One year there was talk about improving the skate park.” Some of the ideas the children offer are implemented by the administration. According to Mayor Beamish, several popular chain restaurants came to Troy as a result of the children’s suggestions.

Despite the many opportunities and involvements for the Mayor’s Youth Council, according to Davis, most of the children participating have said that serving at the soup kitchen is their favorite activity. “We ask them every year what they enjoyed the most and, remarkably, every year they say the soup kitchen is their favorite,” Davis said. “The benefits of giving back to the community aren’t just reserved for adults. It’s wonderful for children to take pride in serving their city.”