YOUTH LEADERSHIP
The MEC promotes youth leadership and engagement through several events where youth take charge in the planning, participating, and organizing the event. The MEC’s Annual Teen Town Hall allows youth to discuss the main issues brought forth by students where they set the stage for topics that will be addressed with Arizona Legislators during Civic Engagement Day. Examples of issues include the loss of teachers, classes, electives, and school programs resulting from the lack of education funding; standardized testing issues; and more recently COVID-19. The Youth Advisory Council/Tucson Teen Congress travels to the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix each year, and meets with Arizona State legislators in order to discuss these issues.
Teen Town Hall
Teen Town Hall
The Teen Town Hall, led by the Metropolitan Education Commission’s (MEC) Youth Advisory Council, brings together students from the City of Tucson and Pima County to express their concerns on topics of their choice to community leaders such as elected officials, school superintendents, high school principals, law enforcement representatives, and the MEC Commissioners.
The Teen Town Hall offers youth an opportunity to discuss any issue they have on their minds, and for community leaders to listen, and gain a greater understanding of what is taking place in schools, neighborhoods, and communities.
Over the years, the Teen Town Hall events have served as catalysts for positive change. Examples of outcomes include the revision of curfew laws, the establishment of teen centers in neighborhoods, and visits to the Arizona State Capitol to meet with legislators regarding education funding, teacher retention, school counselor shortages, and mental health services.
This year’s Teen Town Hall will be delivered in a virtual format through a Zoom Link, which will be provided upon registering for the event. To register, go to the section that pertains to you i.e., student or community leader located at metedu.org/youth.
A special thanks to our partners: Pima County, City of Tucson, Pima County School Superintendent’s Office, The Center for Community Dialogue & Training, and Pima Community College.
Teen Town Hall Registration
Registration is due by Wednesday, Feb 3rd by 5 PMA Virtual Event with Dialogue Circles
Friday, February 12th, 2021
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
For more information, send us an e-mail: info@metedu.org
Annual Teen Town Hall Report
Youth Advisory Council
YAC Application
Fill out YAC Application online
YAC Meeting Schedule
The YAC will meet on the first and third Mondays of each month listed below, except January (second and fourth Mondays), from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The format of the meetings (virtual or in-person) will be determined depending upon the status of COVID-19 pandemic, and directives from the Pima County Health Department and Pima County Library System.
2021