At the Oct. 2 meeting, the Queen Creek Council appointed 13 youth to the Mayor’s Teen Advisory Committee (M-TAC).
The M-TAC was officially approved earlier this year, with the following individuals appointed as inaugural committee members: Amy Boghoussian, Shelby Bonewell, Gabrielle Chambers, Peter Corrado, Taylor Curtis, Christabel Emenim, Madilyn Fisk, Charlie Gonzales, Esther Henderson, Matteo Miller, Taumi Spencer, Tristan Streeter and Dilyn White.
“This is such an incredibly exciting and important milestone for our community,” said Mayor Julia Wheatley. “I am so thankful to everyone who submitted a notice of interest form and truly wish I could have appointed everyone! Narrowing it down to 13 committee members was a difficult task and I am hopeful that those who were not selected will stay involved through sub-committees and activities. I am very confident that this group of passionate youth will bring an important perspective, and I cannot wait to jump in and get to work.”
The committee will provide valuable perspectives to local government, ensuring youth voices are heard and that their needs and ideas are considered. The appointed members were selected from a group of applicants who submitted notice of interest forms. They were selected based on their commitment to the community, their mission to make a difference and their ability to actively engage their peers.
The committee includes students from a variety of schools and various grade levels to help ensure perspectives are representative of teens throughout the Queen Creek community. The M-TAC will foster youth empowerment, civic responsibility and contribute to policy decisions.
The term for M-TAC is one school year, with freshman and sophomores serving two school-year terms this year to provide continuity.
Additional opportunities for youth include participating in the LINK Queen Creek, hosted every second and fourth Friday evening at the Recreation Annex. LINK Queen Creek is a free opportunity for teens to gather in a positive environment and connect with one another. The new Recreation Center, slated to open in 2025, will have a dedicated teen space and programming.
For more information about the LINK or teen resources, please visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Teens.
