The application submission period opened August 1, 2020 for the 2020-21 program year. The application to participate can be downloaded here: Application for 2020-21 program year. Applications must be submitted by 4:00 PM on September 30th to a coordinating teacher at each school, dropped off at City Hall or emailed to YouthCommission@snellville.org. Recommendations must also be received by this same deadline.
SYC - Snellville Youth Commission
The mission of the Snellville Youth Commission is to promote education in governmental affairs, engage the youth of the Snellville area in civic activities and build practical and effective leadership skills.
The Snellville Youth Commission is guided and mentored by the Snellville Youth Commission Advisory Board.
Snellville Youth Commission Advisory Board Members
- Cristy Lenski, Council Member (Organizational Member)
- Eric Van Otteren, Economic Development Manager (Organizational Member)
Appointed August 10, 2020 by vote of Mayor and Council Members
- Chanel Stephens, SYC Coordinator, Intern (July 2020)
- Chris O’Donoghue
- Lisa Porter
- Angelia Mahdi
- Natalie Brown-Van
- Charlene Fletcher
The mission of the Advisory Board is to provide curricular structure for the Snellville Youth Commission, cultivate student growth in civic leadership through mentorship and provide a launching pad for impactful youth engagement, supporting the execution of the Snellville Youth Commission initiatives.
Meeting agendas may be found on the Youth Commission and Advisory Board agenda page. Click the link in the menu on the left edge of this page.
What is Snellville Youth Civic Leadership?
The Snellville Youth Commission was established in 2016 to include Snellville's youth in civic activities. The program welcomes rising sophomores, juniors and seniors to apply. The selected ambassadors from South Gwinnett, Grayson, Brookwood and Shiloh High Schools will engage in and develop their understanding of civic activities. This is an opportunity for students to foster understanding and engagement in the community. Not only will the ambassadors be able to enhance their civic knowledge, they will be able to gain unique experiences expanding their insight into the growing multi-generational and multicultural aspects of Snellville, city leadership and south Gwinnett County as a whole.
What is the Snellville Youth Commission?
This is an opportunity for students to foster understanding and engagement in the community. The Snellville Youth Commission welcomes rising sophomores, juniors and seniors to apply to gain unique experiences that will expand their insight into the growing multigenerational and multicultural aspects of Snellville, city leadership and south Gwinnett County as a whole. The selected ambassadors from South Gwinnett, Grayson, Shiloh and Brookwood High Schools will increase their civic knowledge and develop their understanding by engaging in numerous civic activities.
What is the Snellville Youth Council?
A Snellville Youth Council will be nominated and selected from the overall group of members of the Snellville Youth Commission. This select group will serve as a mock Mayor and City Council for the Snellville Youth Commission and have the opportunity to dive even deeper into the civic experience through more targeted meetings and discussions. They will also be given additional opportunities to participate in extracurricular events, not available to the general Snellville Youth Commission.
What kinds of things will we do?
Students will meet monthly at City Hall to learn from and engage with various leaders in civic and community roles. They will work with their peers to discuss local issues. The SYC ambassador will be offered travel opportunities to visit different leadership organizations both locally, such as in Gwinnett and Chatham, as well as opportunities to discuss with other leaders who live abroad.
When are meetings?
Monthly meetings will be held on a designated Saturday of each month from 10 a.m - 12 p.m. The 2020-21 schedule is shared below. Saturdays are chosen to work around SAT and ACT testing schedules to avoid meeting conflicts. Please note that some of the dates take place during the summer. Membership in the Youth Commission is a comprehensive commitment. During the program year, some opportunities may require the student to obtain a means of transportation. Additionally, the students selected for the Snellville Youth Council will meet an additional period each month (meeting dates are to be determined), for more intensive discussions. The exact day for the additional meeting(s) will be determined by the Youth Council members.
Is there an attendance requirement?
Yes. As a Snellville Youth Commission ambassador, you are not allowed to miss more than three scheduled meetings. After two missed meetings you will be put on probation, and upon missing a third meeting, you will be removed from the program. Students selected for the Snellville Youth Council will be restricted to one absence and will be removed from and replaced on the council upon a second absence. Being removed from the council for attendance reasons does not immediately result in your removal from the general Snellville Youth Commission as the overall attendance policy of no more than two absences would still apply. If you know that you will not be able to meet the attendance requirement, please be considerate of other applicants and refrain from applying so that those who can meet this requirement can be fairly considered.
What does it cost?
There is no cost to the student ambassador to participate in the SYC. The City of Snellville and local businesses have partnered to cover program costs such as the guest speakers, ambassador packages and refreshments. There is no cost to the student ambassador to participate in SYC.
How will Snellville Youth Commission Ambassadors be selected?
Ambassadors will be selected through an application and interview process. The SYC Advisory Board will conduct the review and selection process, as well as an interview. Students will need to complete an application including two recommendations (one recommendation MUST be from a teacher) and one essay. Prior civic engagement and leadership experience are desirable, however they are not mandatory.
When and where are the applications due?
The application submission period will open in August for the 2020-21 program year. The application to participate can be downloaded here: Application for 2020-21 program year. Applications must be submitted by 2:30 PM September 11th to a coordinating teacher at each school, dropped off at City Hall or emailed to YouthCommission@snellville.org. Recommendations must also be received by this same deadline. Interviews will be scheduled following a review of all applications.
Contact Teachers:
Ms. Brown-Van – South Gwinnett High School: Rm A124 natilee_brown_van@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Charlene Fletcher - Grayson High School Counseling Department charlene_fletcher@g.gcpsk12.org
What if I have some additional questions?
Feel free to contact Youth Outreach Coordinator Chanel Stephens at youthcommission@snellville.org, Economic Development Manager Eric Van Otteren at (770)-985-3502 or evanotteren@snellville.org, or Snellville City Council Member Cristy Lenski at clenski@snellville.org.
Snellville Youth Commission Meeting Dates, 2020-2021
August 29 from 10:00 AM to Noon at City Hall in the Community Room
September 19 from 10:00 AM to Noon at City Hall in the Community Room
Advisory Board Meeting Dates, 2020-2021
August 20 at 6:00 PM in City Hall
September 17 at 6:00 PM in city Hall