By Melanie Patterson
The North Jefferson News
FULTONDALE —
As of this week, the city of Fultondale has a new governing body.
On Thursday, Judge Lee Barnes, a Jefferson County Circuit Court judge, swore in the seven-member Fultondale Youth City Council during a ceremony at Fultondale City Hall.
The first Fultondale Youth City Council consists of Diamond Stanley, Darius Temple, Tierra Washington, Lauren Hughes, Robert Vines, Stephen Jones and Karleena Unlap. All of the students are juniors at Fultondale High School, except for Lauren Hughes, who is a freshman.
Randy Posey, who heads up Fultondale’s Community Leadership Summit (CLS), has wanted to start a youth city council for two years.
He said the program is just one part of CLS, which ties together three important aspects of the city of Fultondale: Business, government and community.
“My vision was to form an education committee to make a platform for parents and students to sit together and communicate,” Posey said. “We have great economic growth in Fultondale. We want to match that to the people. This is a long-term investment in the community.”
Teresa Vise, director of the Fultondale Chamber of Commerce, also played a big role in organizing the youth city council. Vise told the group of young leaders that they will witness many changes in the next few years.
“You’re going to lead that,” she said. “You might get lucky, but we’d rather see some planned luck.”
Fultondale High School principal Donna Williamon, who attended the ceremony, was thrilled to see the organization get started.
“This is one more step to filling the gap between schools and the community,” she said. “Plus, the students will learn how government works and what government officials do.”
The students themselves are also excited about the endeavor.
“In a community, different groups of people have different ideas,” said Hughes. “If the youth bring ideas to the community, maybe more youth will become involved.”
Unlap said she applied for the position because also wants to see young people become more involved. Temple said he applied because he wants to help his community.
Washington had an additional reason.
“I want to be a leader,” she said.
All of the students are already leaders in their school, as most of them are in the Ambassadors, Student Government Association, National Honor Society, Peer Helper program and other leadership organizations.
The city of Fultondale is doing its part to kick off the organization by donating $2,500 to the youth city council for its budget.
“This will help you carry out your mission and what you want to do with the city and the school,” said Fultonale councilman Joe Bolton, who is also a teacher at Fultondale High School. Councilman Tommy Loden was also part of Thursday’s ceremony.
Members of the council will serve one-year terms, from May to May.
