Alachua Youth Advisory Council Wins Community Service Contest

ALACHUA – The City of Alachua is proud to announce their Youth Advisory Council (YAC) was named a 2024 Municipal Youth Council Community Service Contest winner. This annual competition hosted by the Florida League of Cities (FLC) showcases community service projects performed by municipal youth councils that successfully address specific needs in their local communities.

The YAC’s most recent service project, “Restoring Dignity,” aimed to provide for the essential needs of school-age children whose families do not have the ability or resources to provide for such needs. YAC members reached out to several businesses of various sizes in the area, as well as some community members, for donations toward the mission. The Alachua community answered the call without hesitation, donating dental supplies, soap, shampoo, socks, first aid supplies and more.

“The volunteer work done by these youth councils to serve their communities is truly inspiring,” said FLC President Greg Ross. “These future leaders identified powerful ways to help their cities, and they are setting an example for all of us who are working to improve our communities.”
“Working with the [Alachua] Youth Advisory Council has been really rewarding; I’ve never done a project of this size,” said Selina Liu, a graduating senior on the YAC. “Restoring Dignity was definitely my favorite part of my time with the Council.”

Liu has many reasons to celebrate alongside her fellow councilmembers, as she was also accepted into Harvard University. She plans to begin her studies there this fall.

The FLC will present a trophy in recognition of the YAC and their contest-winning project during a regular Commission meeting in the near future.

“We are just so proud of our Youth Advisory Council,” said City of Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper. “Year after year, these young people really challenge themselves to go bigger and bigger in their service to the community.”

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