Reading Youth Commission ready to get involved in city government

From collaborations with area nonprofits to marching in Reading’s annual holiday parade, the city’s Youth Commission has had a busy year.

The commission kicked off a little over a year ago for the purpose of advising the mayor, council and city managers on issues pertaining to Reading youths and young adults. It also facilitates their participation in local government.

“We’re just getting started,” Brandom Hernandez Ruiz said. “We want to take an active role.”

Hernandez Ruiz presented the commission’s annual report at a recent City Council meeting.

In the past year, he said, the commission worked on events and projects with the Berks History Center and anti-violence groups The Real Deal 610, which raises awareness of mental health issues and advocates for those recently released from prison; and The Village of Reading, which works to educate and mentor young people.

The commission also wrote letters of support for some community nonprofits seeking a share of the more than $61 million the city received from the American Rescue Plan Act and is working with Reading’s 275th anniversary committee on plans for next year’s celebration and events.

“If you have any ideas, if you have any visions, especially for 275th, we are willing to put in the work,” Hernandez Ruiz said before launching into a video overview created by commission facilitator Genesis Munoz Arias.

Though formed by ordinance in 2017, the commission remained inactive until 2021.

The advisory body is composed of 15 members, ages 14 to 22. Two people from each council district are nominated by that district’s representative and confirmed by council. The remaining three members are nominated by the mayor and confirmed by council.

There are six openings, two each in Districts 1, 3 and 6.

A social media page has been created to attract potential members, said Hernandez Ruiz, 21, who represents District 4.

The Reading High School graduate and Albright College senior said he is excited to be involved in city leadership.

“That’s at the core of what the Youth Commission, to this day, really represents,” he said. “It is just, you know, the youth ages 14 to 22 who really want to get involved in the city. We want to represent our views.”

One of the things the commission is exploring, he said, is whether its age range should be broken into two groups: 14 to 18 and 18 to 22.

Commission members have diverse opinions on the issues due to the group’s wide age range.

“It’s a little difficult to represent (all) views because as a 21-year-old going to college I can’t really represent the views of someone going to Reading High,” Ruiz said.

Jamar Kelly, deputy managing director for the city, said he would like to see the age range expand to 25.

“My bachelor’s (degree) is in political science,” he said, “but I had no idea of the level of engagement and involvement coming out of college that we all do here on the local level. Your ability to be directly impactful in determining your actual quality of life is way bigger than you might realize.”

Kelly, Councilman Christopher Daubert and other city leaders congratulated the committee on its accomplishments.

Daubert also offered his support for splitting it into two age groups and asked if there is anything council can do to make its meeting structure more amenable to youth involvement and to encouraging young adults to run for office.

“We always say that we want young people involved,” Daubert said, “and then we don’t ever look at the structure that’s likely keeping them from running in the first place.”

City residents and students at Albright College, Alvernia University or Reading Area Community College, ages 14 to 22, are encouraged to apply.

The boards, authorities and commissions application form can be found at www.readingpa.gov/boards-authorities-commissions-application-form.

A full list of boards and vacancies can be found at www.readingpa.gov/vacancies.

Source: Berkshire mont