Students appointed to Youth Advisory Board

City Council fills 5 seats on board for representing youth issues

(Release: Sept. 15, 2022)

Simpsonville, S.C. — The very first members of the Simpsonville Youth Advisory Board were appointed by Simpsonville City Council Tuesday night at the regularly scheduled business meeting.

Students Preston Ballentine, Daniela Fernandez, Marie Koon, Kirsten Lanza and Jordy Motte were recommended by City staff to be seated on the Youth Advisory Board for the purpose of advising Council on issues affecting young people in and around Simpsonville. The selection process included submission of applications by and interviews with the students.

Simpsonville Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell, who oversees the Youth Advisory Board initiative, said the unanimous vote by Council to elect the five students to the Board was a proud moment for everyone.

"Simpsonville City Council is committed to hearing all voices, including those of young people, so seating a youth advisory board has been an important goal for several years," Campbell said. "Council and staff are very impressed with the members of the Youth Advisory Board and are excited to see their contributions to the City of Simpsonville."

Council established the Simpsonville Youth Advisory Board in September 2018 with Resolution No. 2018-05. The resolution states that the Board "gives young people a voice through an active role in their city government while teaching them how local government works."

Councilwoman Jenn Hulehan of Ward II originated the goal of establishing a youth advisory board earlier in 2018 with a request for City staff to research and propose a plan for such a board. Council approved a motion in April 2018 directing City Administrator Dianna Gracely to pursue the establishment of a youth advisory board for the City.

After Hulehan made the motion to appoint the students to the Board Tuesday night, she told the students that she was "very impressed" with the them and their interest in government.

"Your voices are incredibly important to this community and to this Council," Hulehan said. "I'm very excited to have you come on board and look forward to the recommendations that you would bring to us as a Council to help make Simpsonville a better place."

All six Council members and Mayor Paul Shewmaker voted in favor of the motion, which Councilwoman Sherry Roche of Ward IV had seconded.

Seating the Simpsonville Youth Advisory Board stalled in spring 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic embedded itself into everyday life. For the health and safety of City staff and more importantly students, Campbell halted the recruitment of students until March 2022 when the City began seeking application submissions again.

"Putting a hold on meeting with some really outstanding students was disappointing, given their desire to serve on the Board," Campbell said. "The impact of the pandemic was in many ways the hardest and most unfair on young people by robbing them of opportunities like this. I'm grateful that Council remained committed to hearing from the youth so that staff could revive the Youth Advisory Board and move forward. The value of persistence is incalculable when creating something that will have a positive impact."

The first class of the Simpsonville Youth Advisory Board is expected to hold their first meeting later this month.

Simpsonville City Council poses for a photograph with the newly appointed students to the Simpsonville Youth Advisory Board at the business meeting on Sept. 13, 2022 | City of Simpsonville

BACK ROW: Councilman Aaron Rupe (Ward II), Councilman Matthew Gooch (Ward I), Councilwoman Jenn Hulehan (Ward III), Board Member Preston Ballentine, Councilman Lou Hutchings (Ward VI), Councilwoman Sherry Roche (Ward IV) and Councilman Ken Cummings (Ward V)

MIDDLE ROW: Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell

FRONT ROW: Board members Marie Koon, Jordy Motte, Daniela Fernandez and Kirsten Lanza