The Hampton Youth Commission is a city-funded Commission composed of 24 high school aged youth from all four of the public high schools in Hampton (located in Virginia), as well as Peninsula Catholic and Hampton Roads Academy. The Hampton Youth Commission represents the ideas and opinions of young people in the city, in order for the youth to have a more formal role in the city's planning and decision making. Youth Commission members speak on issues that are most important to them and their peers, and try to improve the city for other young people.

Along with city improvement, the Commission also allocates funds for other youth related groups and activities, and acts as an advisory board to City Council and other groups that may need their input.

This is just one local program, but you can see that the impact these youth have is immense. Explore the Hampton Youth Commission website and learn more about what they do – and if you are inspired, talk to your city council member about getting something like this started in your community!

www.hampton.gov/youth