The commission is a group of 30 people ages 11-19 which serves as a voice for Clark County youth

VANCOUVER – The Clark County Youth Commission is recruiting youths from all walks of life to fill 13 positions for the 2023-2024 program year.

The commission is a group of 30 people ages 11-19 which serves as a voice for Clark County youth. It advises the Clark County Council, county departments and community organizations about how their work can affect young people. It identifies and takes action on youth concerns, educates the community about building strong youth-adult partnerships, and provides leadership opportunities for youth.

All open positions are available for youth who live in Clark County. Additionally, new leader positions are available for youth with no previous leadership experience, and some positions are open to students living in the geographical boundaries of specific school districts as the Youth Commission uses school district boundaries to ensure broad representation of youth from all areas of the county. Woodland applicants must live in the section of the city within Clark County.

Members serve a one-year term but can recommit to serve multiple terms. The Youth Commission requires six to 12 hours of work each month. Meetings are 6:45-8:45 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of each month, except July and August. These meetings will be in person, unless local and state public health guidelines for social distancing recommend differently. Special projects, assignments and subcommittee work add another two to eight hours per month.

The Youth Commission is accepting applications until Thursday, June 1, 2023. Please find the application at www.clark.wa.gov/community-services/youth-commission. Finalists must participate in an in-person interview. If selected, they must be available to attend a mandatory orientation in August.[JM1] 

Youth commissioners work together on various projects and assignments, voicing ideas and contributing their skills and strengths. The commission is continuously striving to be more representative of the county’s diverse population.

For more information about the Clark County Youth Commission, please contact Elizabeth Houston-Hill, program coordinator, at (564) 397-5133 or elizabeth.hill@clark.wa.gov.

Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.