Area youth to advise city council, learn about government
KYLE — Most youth learn about government through textbooks and in the classroom, but the city of Kyle has created an interactive experience through its Kyle Area Youth Advisory Council (KAYAC) program.
During a meeting on Saturday, Jan. 28, Kyle City Council unanimously voted to bring back the KAYAC program, which was founded in 2013. Though the program was never canceled, it fizzled out during the COVID-19 pandemic, council member Bear Heiser explained.
According to recreation manager Aimee Garcia, the purpose of KAYAC is to give students the opportunity to hear city business items and then advise the Kyle City Council from their unique perspective. It is a 16-member committee, providing them the opportunity to learn about municipal government and advise the council from the perspective of area teens.
The only criteria to join, Garcia added, is that teens must be 14-18 years old, enrolled in 9th through 12th grade and either reside in the city limits of Kyle or currently attend a high school in the Hays CISD school district or are homeschooled within the city limits.
At the special meeting, Heiser, who brought forth the agenda item, said, “I only cared about sports in high school. I didn’t read books, but then I had a government teacher who really engaged me and taught me the importance of government. I always felt like I owed back to the community or society, whether it be an educator like teaching or an elected official … We all could participate in trying to show the kids the importance of getting involved in government because I think it’s very important for our future and it’d be good to get a different perspective on things that are happening in the city from people who usually don’t show up at our meetings.”
Council member Daniela Parsley said, “I am so excited about this.”
KAYAC meetings are held on Wednesday evenings once a month between October and April at city hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Interested teens are encouraged to fill out an application online.
For more information, visit bit.ly/3x1ccX8.
