LANSING – State Representative Vicki Barnett (D-Farmington Hills) last week hosted a luncheon that recognized the contributions of the Farmington/Farmington Hills Mayor's Youth Council to the community.
"These kids have taken it upon themselves to get involved in their community and they should be honored for their service," Barnett said. "I commend them for the fine work they've done making Farmington and Farmington Hills better places to live."
Barnett met with the Mayor's Youth Council on Friday at Buddy's Pizza in Farmington Hills as part of her efforts to reach out to kids and engage them in government. As the former mayor of Farmington Hills, Barnett has made it her priority to get kids more involved with their communities.
At the luncheon, the students asked Barnett about a number of issues, ranging from the proposed smoking ban to Michigan's efforts to increase the use of renewable energy. The sweeping discussion lasted over an hour.
The Mayor's Youth Council is a group of area teens that work with local government and elected officials to be active in their communities by developing youth programs and projects throughout the community. The organization also acts as a liaison between teens and elected officials to advocate on behalf of the needs of area youth.
In the past, the Mayor's Youth Council has held can drives throughout the community, volunteered at local election stations and successfully led a drive to install a traffic light at a high school, in order to increase students' safety.
"Michigan is a better place with quality students like these in our communities, and I hope that they continue to stay active and involved," Barnett said. "As we work to turn Michigan's economy around, I'm glad that organizations like the Mayor's Youth Council are doing their part to make our community a great place to live, work and raise a family."