This month the Henderson County Youth Council (HCYC) welcomes eight new members to its legion of local teen leaders.
The HCYC program brings teens from all Henderson County high schools — public, private, and home school — together to advocate for issues impacting youth. Members will have the opportunity to learn new leadership skills and act on a wide variety of topics and issues that affect young adults.
The HCYC was founded in 2011 by student leader and first Chairperson, Drue Stinnent, as a way for teens to learn about local government and to have a voice in the community. The youth council now initiates community service projects and social events for young adults. They also advocate for youth leadership opportunities and inclusion of youth perspectives in local and government decision making.
Both the returning and new members will participate in a service project on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at United Way of Henderson County, where they will help complete the installation of the new Born Learning Trail on the Oklawaha Greenway.
Welcome 2017-2018 Henderson County Youth Council:
Bradley Cole, North Henderson High School; Taylor Calloway, North Henderson High School; Moriah Fender, West Henderson High School; Kinley Freeman, North Henderson High School; Michelle Gonzalez, North Henderson High School; Oliver Kompathoum, Hendersonville High School; Annie Grace Plott, North Henderson High School; Janeissa Romero, Early College.
A huge thank you to the 2016-2017 council for their hard work and dedication this past year:
Emma Bentley, Balfour Education Center; Michelle Huerta Mendez, East Henderson High School; Hagen Mendrykowski, Hendersonville High School; Genesis Lagos Orsorio, Early College; Alex Ramirez, Early College; Madison Toro, Balfour Education Center; Eli Tyler, East Henderson High School.
HCYC is a partnership of United Way of Henderson County and Hope Rx. They will resume meeting monthly at United Way of Henderson County in Hendersonville to discuss issues facing the youth population in Hendersonville and to work on ways to make a difference. For more information about the Henderson County Youth Council, contact Michelle Geiser, HCYC Advisor at 828-708-8474 or Adrienne Pomeroy, HCYC Advisor at 828-692-1636.