Mayor's Youth Initiative

          Recognizing that the Youth of our community are our future, Mayor Rea has developed the Mayor’s Youth Initiative.  The program is a comprehensive program of reaching out to young people in our community.  The program provides a great opportunity for young people to interact with City officials and learn important lessons that will help make them better citizens. Here are some of the key components:

• Kindergarten through 6th Grade: Mayor Jeff has made it a priority to read to young people on a regular basis in the schools and has encouraged other City Officials to do the same. Mayor Jeff wants to help students understand the importance of reading as they grow older.

• 2^nd Grade: Mayor Jeff makes a presentation to every 2^nd grade classroom entitled “Explore Mishawaka.”  The presentation is intended to make students aware of all Mishawaka has to offer, from our parks to our neighborhoods, and the great services available here in their home community.

• 3^rd Grade: Mayor Jeff makes a presentation to every 3^rd grade classroom entitled “Mishawaka History.”  The presentation is intended to make students aware of the history of Mishawaka, from the story of Princess Mishawaka, to stories of the early settlers and leaders that helped make the city the great community it is today.

• 4^th Grade: Mayor Jeff makes a presentation to every 4^th grade classroom entitled “Good Citizenship.”  The presentation is intended to make students aware of things they can do the help make the community better by being good citizens.

• 5^th Grade: The Police Department teaches the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program to every 5^th grade student in the City.  The program teaches students about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and violence, and how to handle peer pressure. Mayor Jeff has been and active participant in the program, speaking to every graduating class, emphasizing some of the important things they have learned in the class. 

• 6^th Grade:  In conjunction with the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT), Mayor Jeff makes a presentation to every 6^th grade classroom about the City and the responsibilities of the job of Mayor. Each 6^th grader then completes an “If I were Mayor” essay. Local winners are chosen, and winning essays are submitted to statewide competition.  The essays are also used to provide input to the city on issues important to young people.

• 7^th Grade: The Police Department teaches the Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT) program to every 7^th grade student in Mishawaka.  The program teaches students about the dangers of gangs and violence and how to avoid them.

• 7^th and 8^th Grade: Mayor Jeff conducts an annual Town Hall Meeting with students in the 7^th and 8^th grade at John Young Middle School. The purpose of the meeting is inform students on what is happening in the city and to get their ideas about what kinds of things they would like to see. Topics include things like what’s missing at Summerfest and what do we need in the parks that appeal to their age group.

• 5^th-12^th Grades: Mayor Jeff osrganizes two annual Student Council work days, one in the spring, and one in the fall.  Student Council representatives from each school participate in improving their school, neighborhood, or park.  The hope is that this work inspires students to take ownership in their community, and develops a spirit of volunteering within each student.

• 9^th-12^th Grades: Mayor Jeff conducts an annual Town Hall Meeting with students in the 9th-12^th grades at Mishawaka High School. The purpose of the meeting is inform students on what is happening in the city and to get their ideas about what kinds of things they would like to see. Topics include things like what’s missing at Summerfest and what do we need in the parks that appeal to their age group.

•  9^th-12^th Grades: Mayor Jeff works closely with the Student Council at Mishawaka High School on a variety of yearly events. Mayor Jeff addresses the group at least annually, and works closely with the Council on making sure their voice are heard, whether it is on the Homecoming Parade, traffic safety issues, or things missing for their age group to do.

• 9^th-12^th Grades: Mayor Jeff annually appears at Career Day at Mishawaka High School, updating students on potential job and career opportunities in the community, as well as job and career opportunities with the City of Mishawaka.

• 9^th-12^th Grades:  Mayor Jeff has developed the Mayor’s Youth Council. See additional information on the Youth Council at the end of this section.

• Boys and Girls Club:  Mayor Jeff has worked closely with the Boys and Girls Club after school program at Battell Elementary School. Together with the staff and volunteers, as well as the staff at Battell School, a real difference is being made in the lives of local young people.  The program gives students a place to go after school where they can participate in organized activities, do their homework, have tutoring, and just interact with their classmates.  The Battell site has become a great community partnership, relying on the assistance of local volunteer groups like the Mishawaka Breakfast Optimist Club to help make it a success. On an average day, more than 165 students participate in the program from Battell School.  The good news is that the program is paying off, and a real difference can be seen in ISTEP scores from those that participate in the program and those that do not.  For example, 100% of the sixth graders that participated in the program passed their ISTEP Math scores.  Mayor Jeff credits Tammy Slaven and all the dedicated members of the Boys and Girls staff for the real difference that they are making everyday in the lives of the children involved with the Boys and Girls Club at Battell School. 

• Young Professionals:  Mayor Jeff is a member and has participated in a number of programs with the Young Professionals Network of St. Joseph County.  The program is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County and is a professional development program encouraging young professionals in north central Indiana and southwest lower Michigan between the ages of 21 and 39 to become actively involved and engaged in area business and the future of the region through networking, the exchange of ideas and professional development. 

Mayor’s Youth Council

            One of my objectives when Mayor Jeff began his position as Mayor was the development of a Mayor’s Youth Council.  In my first two years, he did extensive research on youth council’s in other communities and what it was that made them successful.  That research included reviewing paperwork about the organization of a youth council, conversations with youth council members in other communities, and a visit to the New Haven, IN Youth Council.  New Haven has the largest and most active youth council in the State of Indiana.

             In the spring of 2006, Mayor Jeff invited representatives from Mishawaka High School, Marian High School, and Penn High School to select students to participate on the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. Because the 2005-2006 school year was coming to a close, school leaders and the Mayor elected to start once the 2006-2007 school year began. Initially, sixteen students were selected, eight from Mishawaka High School, five from Marian High School, and three from Penn High School.

             The Mayor's Youth Advisory Council has been established in Mishawaka to provide an opportunity for young adults to get involved and learn about their local government and their community.  It also provides a way for young adults to act as a liaison group between our youth and city officials regarding their interests and needs.  By participating in the Council, our young adults will be able to develop stronger leadership skills while working in conjunction with the Mayor, City Council and other local government departments as they serve as a forum for the youth of Mishawaka.

             The Council has met monthly since September of 2006, and has provided important input on a number of key city projects. For example, the Youth Council served as a focus group for the developer of Ironworks, providing feedback on the types of things that would attract them to the Ironworks development. The Youth Council also has participated in and provided feedback in the development of the updated Park Master Plan. The Youth Council has also provided guidance on important projects like the Comprehensive Plan update and our transportation plan. We are fortunate to have some bright young minds on the Council and their feedback has been invaluable. Mayor Jeff looks forward to continuing his work with the Youth Council in the future.

            In the coming year, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council will continue to work hard to learn, educate, and gain positive values, so that it can give back to this community and help make Mishawaka a better place for another generation.

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P.O. Box 861

Mishawaka, IN 46546-0861

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e-mail: reaformayor@aol.com