Guest Commentary | Come meet Cape’s Youth Council
One of the great privileges of my time on the Cape Coral City Council was serving as liaison to our Cape Coral Youth Council. This group of 16 juniors and seniors from seven local high schools work each year on projects that not only benefit our community but also the youth who live here.
An opportunity presented itself earlier this year to become advisor to this amazingly talented group. I jumped on it. These students are the city’s future and to assist them in any way continued a goal of mine to better prepare them for life’s journey.
Part of that journey includes the youth council’s first-ever Meet and Greet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Nice Guys Pizza, 1404 Cape Coral Parkway E. in Cape Coral.
The event will be an opportunity for the community to interact with the council and learn about the various projects the students are participating in this year and into 2026. One of the biggest is a trip to Washington D.C. for the annual National League of Cities Congressional City Conference next year. The Meet and Greet will also serve as a fundraising event for the students, who are trying to raise about $20,000 to sponsor 11 students for the trip, which is planned for March 14-18.
This conference not only allows the students to interact with other youth councils from around the country but also provides a platform for skill and leadership development, insights into federal programs and to engage actively in civic life, helping their local governments develop more effective, youth-informed community programs. The Congressional City Conference Youth Program is led and created by youth representatives on NLC’s Council on Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Council).
“Everyone should attend the Meet and Greet because it is not only a chance for us to introduce ourselves, but also for citizens to see what we do,” Youth Council Chairperson Lexie Skorzak said. It’s a way for people to see the programs that mean a lot to us and to meet city council members, our advisors and to learn about funding the National League of Cities trip.”
The Meet and Greet will feature speeches from Cape Coral City Council member Jennifer Nelson-Lastra, who is this year’s youth council liaison, as well as from various members of the youth council.
Among the topics:
• Introducing the Hope for the Holidays project, by youth council vice chair Emma Brown.
• The council’s Mental Health project, by youth council member Claire Johnson.
• The Drive-In movie programs, by Berenice Sanchez.
• The Trunk or Treat event, set for Oct. 24 at Cape Coral City Hall, by Emily Salazar.
“This is going to be a great opportunity for the community to meet the dynamic, young individuals who are our future leaders,” Nelson-Lastra said. “This event is the perfect way for the community to come and learn about all the things the youth council is doing, how it works and the money they are raising for D.C.”
Tom Hayden served on the Cape Coral City Council from November 2020, through November 2024. He is currently Cape Coral Youth Council advisor.