2026-05-21 · Boards & Commissions · Agenda Packet · Youth Council Advisory Committee · Agenda Packet

STOCKBRIDGE YOUTH COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dr. Alfreda Renee Gourdine, Chair Ayesha Gambles, Vice-Chair Youth Council Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda May 21, 2026 6:30 PM Joc’Quelyn Carter, Treasurer Sharika Zellars, Student Liaison Vacant, Secretary Valerie Richmond-Reese, Parliamentarian MEMBERS-AT-LARGE Tykera Goins Gernita Johnson Candis Jones Georgia McIntyre Denita Webb Dr. Thomas Smith STAFF LIAISON Cassandra Lester STOCKBRIDGE CITY HALL 4640 NORTH HENRY BLVD. STOCKBRIDGE, GA 30281 Website: www.stockbridgega.org Phone: 770-389-7900 Fax: 770-389-7912 AGENDA YOUTH COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2026 6:30 PM I. II. III. IV. Call to Order 1. Invocation Followed by Pledge 2. Roll Call 3. Approve Agenda 4. Approve March 19, 2026 Meeting Minutes Old Business 5. AC Retreat 6. Track it Forward 7. SYC Recruitment 8. Closet Maintenance 9. Paraphernalia Reorder 10. Area Beautification New Business 11. SYC Interview 12. Summer Months Calendar 13. SYC/AC Calendar (July - September) 14. Budget Adjourn The Youth Advisory Council Committee is to make recommendations to Council based on the following Terms of Reference. 1. To identify and advise on youth issues in the City of Stockbridge. 2. To advise Council on the development of policies that are responsive to the needs of youth. 3. To consult with local youth and feedback results of consultations to Council. 4. To assist in the ongoing development and delivery of youth-targeted projects and programs. 5. To create opportunities for youth leadership development by acting as a resource for youth activities. Note: This Committee meets monthly on selected dates. Stockbridge Youth Council Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 19, 2026 I. Call to Order a) Quorum was met, and the meeting was called to order at _6:42pm_ 1. • Invocation led by _Sharika Zellars__ Pledge of Allegiance: Recited in unison 2. Roll Call Roll Call Dr. Renee Gourdine Ayesha Gambles Valerie Richmond-Reese Tykera Goins Candis Jones Joc’Quelyn Carter Georgia McIntyre Denita Webb Sharika Zellars Gernita Johnson Members Absent: Dr. Thomas Smith 3. Approve Agenda Ayesha Gambles: Motion to approve the agenda, with the changes to move Denita Webb up to the Secretary position as it currently listed as Vacant. In addition to adding the GMA Update to item 10 of Old Business titled Calendar Report End of Year & Upcoming Year, as well as the Budget Report will be tabled until April’s meeting. a. Motion: Ayesha Gambles b. Second: Joc’quelyn Carter c. In Favor: All present d. Oppose: None e. Abstain: None f. Motion: Carries 4. Approve February 19, 2026 Minutes a. Motion: Tykera Goins b. Second: Valerie Richmond-Reese c. In Favor: All present d. Oppose: None e. Abstain: None f. Motion: Carries II. Old Business 5. Welcome New Advisory Committee Member 1 The Committee welcomed the newest committee member, Ms. Gernita Johnson, to the committee. Ms. Johnson gave a few words to introduce her background and shared that she is excited to join us and serve the Stockbridge Youth Council. 6. Track It Forward Ayesha Gambles reported that she will have the individual reports for each committee member at the next meeting. She explained that Track it Forward is a tool we use to track attendance and participation. 7. SYC Recruitment • Denita Webb focused on recruitment the week of March 15 th by attending the local elementary, middle, and high schools to increase the following for the SYC social media page. • Passed out flyers to each school and set up tables at both Stockbridge Middle & High Schools. • Sharika Zellars is also doing an outreach at the schools and stated we plan to make more of a presence at the schools instead of just passing out treat bags. • Plans to continue recruitment the week after the Expo and again a week or so after the scheduled Spring Break. • Target the schools where we do not already have SYC students attending. • Attend Tasty Tuesdays in the summer and Back to School Drive/Giveaways in July or August. • Need a total of twelve students because we have six graduating seniors. Recruitment is an open application process so it is ongoing, but we want to start in January. • Follow up with the city to obtain current applications. • Denita suggested that we restart the Recruitment Committee and Chairman Gourdine agreed that it is necessary and it something that was done in the past however those that lead that committee have since then moved on to other roles, so we just need to pick it back up again with some new committee members. 8. SPD/SYC Dinner and Discussion • Chairman Gourdine explained that we have been pushing the initiative with bridging the gap between the youth and the police officers so they understand they can have a positive relationship with the officers. • She mentioned that this may be the last year we focus on the police department and venture out to include other first responders. • Sharika along with Dr. Smith is chairing this year’s annual police dinner and provided the date of April 16 th @ 6:30pm and the budget is confirmed at $2,000.00. She is working with the students to figure out how to make it more inter-active and is planning to get feedback from the police officers as well about safety. Students will be asked to bring a minimum of 3 friends. • A few things were suggested by committee members like team kickball with the officers, how to respond to teen-takeover situations, a safety pledge designed Tik-Tok short, obstacle course, real-life situational scenarios, and SYC against bullying initiative. • Food Menu-TBD. • Ayesha Gambles will put an RSVP tracker in GroupMe so committee members can start responding and it will go until the end of the month. 9. SYC Entrepreneur Expo Update • Chairman Gourdine shared the road signs, appreciation certificates for vendors, and the posters for small sessions signs were all done. 2 • • • • • • • • • • A special committee was formed to make this event a success which included Sharika, Valerie, Ayesha, Denita, and Candis. Valerie reported for decorations that a balloon arch will be created, directional signs, table assignment signs and signs will be placed outside of the rooms for the sessions. Denita reported for community outreach that she gave 50 flyers to Cotton Indian Elementary, Smith Barnes Elementary and Stockbridge Elementary, and she did a the set up in the school cafeteria at both Stockbridge Middle and High school and handed out 75 flyers to the middle school and 100 to the high school. Candis helped create the marketing signs and registration desk set up. Sharika confirmed that the budget is $5,000.00. Ayesha reported for vendor communication that all vendors have received logistical information via email, and she created a specific Group Me for the vendors. So far some of the vendors have paid in advance and she has collected a total of $440.00. We have fourteen adult vendors and twenty-six youth vendors. She will be sending the PDF with the list of vendors to the planning committee. She mentioned the committee members are wearing the red shirts. Joc’Quelyn mentioned she would prefer that people pay with Cash. Sharika reported as the event chair and confirmed all advisory committees’ arrival times the morning of as well vendor arrival times. She stated will have (3) 30-minute mini sessions: “How to Start Your Business”, “All About Branding Your Business” and “How to get your LLC Registered”. We will have large games and inflatables outside. She confirmed that we will need enough students and committee members available to assist at different stations and asked everyone to be fluid and open-minded that day. Invoices have been paid for many of the items necessary. SYC hosted the concessions. Will include basic items like nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers and fries, nothing to compete with the youth vendors in attendance. 10. Calendar Report End of Year/Upcoming Year • Ayesha reported for the GMA this year she and Denita will be chaperoning, and we have 6 students attending: • Laylah, Gavin, Marcus, Madison, Selah, and Mckenzie. • We will be departing from city hall at 5:15pm on Friday 3/20 th and we will not be attending the last 2 days of events on Sunday or Monday because we have the Youth Entrepreneur Expo on Sunday. • She confirmed that the city has a branded fourteen passenger van for us to use whenever we need to. • Sharika is putting together snack bags for the students to take with us. • Area beautification is always held on the 2 nd Saturday of each month. Everything else we already discussed. 11. Budget Report No budget updates could be provided at this time. III. New Business 12. Senior Banquet • Sharika reported that this is the time where we highlight graduating seniors but this year, we do things a little differently where we also acknowledge and highlight students who are going above and beyond. To combine it with an End of the Year Celebration. Where we can introduce things like “The Student Had the Most Volunteer Hours” and “The Student Who Led the Most Initiatives” so they do not have to wait until their senior year to receive acknowledgement for their hard work. 3 • Banquet date: May 12 th after Sharika confirms availability with the students. • Sharika will be in search of a new location to host it, like a hotel conference room, Merle Manders or somewhere. • Chairman Gourdine suggested that we vote on the budget. Budget for this event was proposed to be set at $5,000.00 and for student gifts are set to $150.00. • Ayesha volunteered to find some local businesses and our city council members to donate towards the gifts. a. Motion: Ayesha Gambles b. Second: Georgia McIntyre c. In Favor: All present d. Oppose: None e. Abstain: None f. Motion: Carries 13. SYC Wellness Videos/Anti-Bullying Videos • Sharika stated that the initiative for the year this year is all about Wellness to include but not limited to Physical, Mental and Spiritual. • Students instructed to create wellness videos based on what they felt the strongest about. • Each student has done a minimum of 2 videos which will be posted on social media to cover us throughout the summer months. • Starting the 1 st Wednesday in April with the theme of Wellness Wednesday and each Wednesday weekly until we return from the summer. • The students are also doing some posters regarding the anti-bullying initiatives, especially with the recent deaths in the county. • Posters will be taken to GMA to get the other youth councils to partner and take photos to stand in solidarity with us against bullying. • Chairman Gourdine closed out with stating that we need to order a total of 8 binders so every committee member can get one. As well as anyone who has not gotten their headshots done to please get them done by the end of this month. IV. Executive Session (if needed) a. Not Required V. Adjourn a. Joc’quelyn Carter made a motion to adjourn at 8:29pm a. Motion: Joc’quelyn Carter b. Second: Valerie Richmond-Reese c. In Favor: All present d. Oppose: None e. Abstain: None a. Motion: Carries 4