Published on March 07, 2024
The City of Maricopa's Youth Council kicked off their spring break with a trip to the Arizona State Capitol this week. They had the opportunity to spend time with Rep. Teresa Martinez, Sen. TJ Shope, and others, getting a full tour of the Arizona State Legislature. The City of Maricopa Youth Council is a program aimed at empowering compassionate young individuals who are committed to their personal growth and taking on leadership roles within the community. In addition to monthly meetings to learn about the community, the council members often dedicate a large amount of time to volunteering and community service activities. “The Maricopa Youth Council is a passionate group of teenagers dedicated to their community. Their commitment shines through the various events and activities they volunteer for. This helps develop a strong sense of social responsibility, teaching them the importance of giving back to their community. It's evident in everything they do,” said Rebecca Bennet, one of the program coordinators. This week, however, the Youth Council was spending time on the Arizona House of Representatives floor voting on a mock bill and being introduced by Sen. Shope during the Senate floor session. Councilmember Henry Wade also joined the members of the Youth Council on their trip. "It was good to see how interested our Youth Council were and how quickly they were willing to get involved with the entire experience," said Councilmember Wade. "It was a very insightful and educational experience. My personal favorite part of the trip was the mock bill that we could partake in thanks to Representative Teresa Martinez, the experience was very enjoyable and gave us a sense of the process to pass a bill," said Lucas Bennett, a member of the Maricopa Youth Council. "Representative Martinez did a fantastic job teaching us the history of the House and allowing us the chance to vote on a mock bill. Overall, the experience was very memorable and a great learning experience and something we won’t forget," said Araya Tannehill, another member of the Maricopa Youth Council. To learn more about this program including how to apply to join the Maricopa Youth Council, click here.