WARSAW — The City of Warsaw is partnering with Warsaw Community High School to give high schoolers a voice in their city.

Warsaw is seeking ambitious, motivated students with a desire to impact their community through serving to apply to the Mayor Youth Advisory Council. The council is looking to hear students’ perspectives on Warsaw and how they seek to improve and change the community. MYAC is accepting applications by mail or email until Sept. 5. MYAC students will be selected on Sept. 22 with notifications sent soon after.

“I had tried this several years ago,” said Warsaw Mayor Joseph Thallemer, “but we had decided at the time that it didn’t work. I wanted to redo it.”

“I’m hoping that I learn and get a good idea of what the youth of this community want to see in this community. You know, its important that we listen to the kids and to the leaders of tomorrow.”

The council will discuss community issues, work on a service project and attend a state conference for youth councils in Indiana. The first year will be a foundational building block for MYAC’s future and will focus on laying a foundation by creating a constitution and bylaws.

Students will work close beside the mayor and other government officials as they work to improve the Warsaw community with new, youthful ideas and concepts while learning more about city government, service and leadership.

Thallemer believes a better community in the future will start by hearing from its future leaders and the issues they feel are important in the community. According to Thallemer, the council will open the floor for discussion between the existing city government and its future. “You know, kids are full of youthful ideas, and sometimes there are limits to what we can do but understanding what their goals and dreams are is the important thing.”

According to Superintendent David Hoffert, Warsaw Community High School is excited to further its working relationship with the city. It has worked with Warsaw several times in the past. Some past projects include construction, school resource officers and school security. “WCS is pleased and excited to be a part of this civics development program. We have the good fortune to work together on many projects,” said Hoffert. “We see this as a great collaboration in helping to develop the next generation of local civic leaders.”

The council will meet once a month throughout the school year with more meetings possibly being added later on. Students may hold actual positions while on the council including president, vice president, secretary and social media coordinator. They will also work closely with MYAC Coordinator Michael Joy as well as Mayor Thallemer

Thallemer hopes the opportunity will cause more of the young leaders to seek to serve the community and seek positions in Warsaw in the future. “You know, many communities have difficulties holding on to the talent from their communities,” stated Thallemer, “and we want our leaders to embrace our communities and stay in our community. I think it’s important to understand what they are looking for.”

Students interested in the council can find the application online. Applications can be submitted by mail to the attention of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council Coordinator at City Hall, 102 S Buffalo St., Warsaw, by Sept. 5 or emailing it to [email protected].