PHOENIX— The Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF) is pleased to announce the Governor’s Youth Commission (GYC) class of 2016 – 2017, with representation from all fifteen counties. Given the highly qualified pool of hundreds of applicants, the selection process was incredibly competitive. Fifty-one high school sophomores, juniors and seniors were appointed and will play a vital role inspiring Arizona’s youth “to take the lead”. The GYC has chosen to focus on substance abuse, bullying, teen dating violence, and distracted driving in their respective counties and promote civics education among youth. “The GYC offers a remarkable opportunity for young people to demonstrate their strong commitment to service, volunteerism, and to mobilize their peers to solve youth challenges,” shared the GOYFF Director, Debbie Moak.
Through innovative programs, events, and campaigns, the GYC has served our state since 1989. For the second year in a row, the GYC helped the state of Arizona achieve its number one ranking in the world in youth led service projects. Last year the youth in Arizona logged over 94,305 service hours on the BeSeenBeHeard.az.gov website, and the numbers keep growing. By the end of the program 85% of participating GYC members reported that their self-esteem and confidence had improved.
We look forward to welcoming our new commissioners to this prestigious group and harnessing their collective youth voices to solve challenges for the state of Arizona. The commission will inspire and empower other youth to lead and participate in local volunteer programs and raise awareness of community issues statewide. To see a full list of commissioners please visit our website: BeSeenBeHeard.az.gov and click the represent tab.
