On Thursday night, 18 of Milledgeville’s most promising young men and women were officially commissioned into the Mayor’s Commission on Youth Development, a program that aims to develop the knowledge, skills and values that are needed to be effective active citizens.

Students in the commission serve as representatives for after-school and school programs including the High Achievers Program, the Boys & Girls Club, 100 Black Men of Oconee, Georgia College Early College, Georgia Military College, Baldwin High School, 21st CCLC’s Yes Program, GCSU’s Academic Initiative for Males, Vaughn Chapel and Baldwin County Parks and Recreation.

Each youth was chosen because of their demonstrated leadership potential.

“I think it was a great success for the first night,” said Mayor Richard Bentley. “I was really impressed with them.”

Members of the special commission will learn about the issues that affect youth, make informed opinions and share those opinions with others. Additionally, the youth will conduct market research to determine any gaps in after-school services that are available in the area.

“It’s an opportunity for young people learn about issues that affect the community and at the end of the day know that they can make a difference in this community,” said High Achievers Program Coordinator Bibole Ngalamulume. “We want our young people to be able to create change and take action.”

The commission will meet a couple of times every month — once a month with Mayor Richard Bentley and once a month with GCSU professor Dr. Doreen Sams of GCSU’s J. Whitney Bunting School of business.

At each meeting with Mayor Bentley, the students will have the opportunity to hear from people in different leadership positions in the community and discuss issues that affect youth. The students will be working with Dr. Sams to create public relations materials to advocate issues that concern the community.

“She’s going to use her professional skills to ensure that the young people are able to market themselves,” said Ngalamulume.

This youth initiative was made possible because of a grant with the Department of Human Resources that will be used to sustain the High Achievers Program and serve additional youth in the community.