LCF Youth Council Targets Visibility in Meeting

Options for youth-oriented programs topped the agenda at the La Cañada Flintridge Youth Council meeting Friday at .

The all-teen panel decided to take a final vote next month to move forward with working out the details of several ideas centered around increasing community involvement as well as services and opportunities for local young people.

Possible projects included:

• An article written by a youth council member and published in local news outlets or the newspaper
• A monthly newsletter
• Youth council website
• Collaborating with the Community Center on a youth-focused event such as an educational seminar for teenagers
• Involvement with the Foothill Relay for Life fundraiser that benefits the American Cancer Society
• Inviting local peers who lead community organizations to make presentations at youth council meetings
• Establishing subcommittees to focus on specific projects

The council may also consider a day event that offers a sports activity for area young people and supporting La Cañada Valley Beautiful's community clean-up efforts.

The Youth Council has a city-funded annual budget of $1,000 to cover program costs  that must receive approval from commissions and ultimately the City Council.

The city council appoints La Cañada Flintridge residents between ages 14 and 19 to two-year terms and in July named Anais Stepanian and Shant Hairapetian to available seats on the nine-member dais.

Stepanian said preventing vandalism and littering through LCF beautification efforts were key issues as she settles into working with her new colleagues.

Hairapetian said he looks forward to building ties with the Community Center that will result in interesting events for the city's young people.

"I think it's really fun. I like everyone here, and I feel like we're actually getting somewhere," Stepanian said of the youth council's recent brainstorming sessions on which projects they'll eventually propose to the city government's higher levels.