SENATE MEMORIAL 34

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE SUCCESS OF YOUTH ADVISORY BOARDS AND COUNCILS AT THE CITY LEVEL AND ENCOURAGING INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES TO CREATE YOUTH COUNCILS AT THE CITY OR TOWN LEVEL AND YOUTH COMMISSIONS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL IN ORDER TO FORMALLY PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE YOUTH VOICE WHILE INVOLVING YOUTH IN THE FUTURE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

     WHEREAS, the second session of the forty-eighth legislature approved Senate Memorial 4, recognizing and endorsing the Las Vegas youth commission as a model youth participation project in local governance; and

     WHEREAS, since 1992, the national league of cities has incorporated the youth voice into its institute for youth, education and families; and

     WHEREAS, the mayors of Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Farmington and Alamogordo support and have formally created a governmental role for the youth voice in their respective communities and have demonstrated the community worth of this concept; and

     WHEREAS, there is a demonstrated need for youth to participate in the governance system of their communities on all matters affecting young people, such as building healthier communities, combating violence, conducting public forums and advising on youth-appropriate substance abuse programming, and to participate on behalf of community youth on such issues as curfews, cruising, truancy, skateboard parks, underage drinking and "youth space" programming; and

     WHEREAS, these councils and commissions provide viable youth channels for service learning and community and civic engagement programs where they do not currently exist;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it encourage the creation of youth councils at the incorporated municipality, pueblo and reservation levels and youth commissions at the county level; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that school districts, universities and community colleges be encouraged to work with these youth councils and commissions to realize the success of future service learning and community and civic engagement programs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to each incorporated municipality, tribe, pueblo, reservation, county, school district, university and community college in New Mexico.

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