Editorial: Youth voices bring new perspective to local government

There is a lot of conversation about getting young people involved.

It usually refers to voting. Sometimes it hits on things like volunteering or reading the news — anything that gets youth interested and engaged in what is going on around them.

What is less mentioned is participation in government — not the observational participation of showing up at a meeting but the active kind of stepping forward to take a real role.

Tarentum is considering becoming the latest community to create a junior council member position.

“I think it would be awesome,” Councilwoman Lou Ann Homa said. “It would be an excellent opportunity for a student to actually see how local government works.

Fox Chapel Area High School has students who serve as junior council members in Fox Chapel and Sharpsburg. Trafford and Blawnox participate, too.

The Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs has been promoting the program since 2000. The idea is, through exposure and involvement, to take kids with potential and develop them into people prepared to take on leadership.

There are other reasons for Tarentum and other communities to consider it.

Pennsylvania has an aging population. You can see that reflected in some council positions. There can be problems filling positions on some municipal ballots or in appointed roles such as on authorities and boards.

In addition to training people to see the importance of those roles, there is another value, and it is both a give and a take.

The voices of young people are an important perspective. They can see needs that someone 20, 40 or 60 years older won’t recognize. The kids need to learn to speak up — and sometimes the adults who have been in power need to learn to listen.

“It gives the kids a voice, and it provides a new and different perspective,” Tarentum Manager Dwight Boddorf said.

At the very least, sitting at one table and sharing information has never been a bad idea. It’s the way problems are solved. Young people need to be part of that solution.