New teen section debuts New teen section debuts (February 06, 2004)

Teen issues and events will be featured monthly

By Astra Bryant, Preeti Piplani and Aaron Shaw

Many cities don't give their teens a chance to speak their minds. Luckily for us, Mountain View isn't one of them.

Five years ago, the City of Mountain View created the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) to amplify teen voices. Since teens under the age of 18 can't vote, YAG members make sure that teen voices are heard in the halls of local government.

YAG members are the teen conscience for the adults who manage the City of Mountain View. Since members attend a variety of schools and pursue a wide range of interests, they are able to talk and listen to a cross section of their peers and pass that information along to adult decision-makers.

The group's newest project is "Teen Voice," the teen-written section of the Mountain View Voice, which you are currently reading. The articles in this monthly section represent the group's commitment to broadcast teen voices, not only to other teens, but also to the community as a whole. The calendar items represent YAG's commitment to support teen-oriented projects and create a stronger teen community.

The Youth Advisory Group is comprised of two teams -- high school and middle school -- which in turn are divided into various subcommittees that address the diverse concerns of teens. Members work with the city's staff to plan and implement programs, including driver education classes, the Mayor's Youth Conference, local band concerts, skateboard workshops led by professionals, middle school dances and intergenerational events.

Youth group members have recommended the construction of and design for city facilities, including the Teen Center and Rengstorff Skate Park. They also lend support to teen-oriented projects, including the teen zone at the Public Library and local band nights at the YMCA and other venues.

We hope that by reading these articles in the Voice, you will hear clearly the voice of Mountain View teens. If you are interested in submitting articles or calendar items to appear in Teen Voice, e-mail YAG@ci.mtnview.ca.us.

Astra Bryant is a senior at Mountain View High School; Preeti Piplani is a senior at Los Altos High School; and Aaron Shaw is a sophomore at Mountain View High School.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.