Group photo of the students with Dekko Foundation, which is supporting this program
ATHENS-The City of Athens and Dekko Foundation are putting money into high school students’ hands and giving them the responsibility of investing it to enhance their community.
The students, who are members of the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission, are accepting community grant proposals from non-profit organizations with a program, project or event that will benefit Athens. The students plan to award grants ranging from $100 to up to $1,000.
Each year, the Youth Commission receives funding from various entities like Dekko Foundation to operate the community grant program. This year, Dekko Foundation supported the program with $1,300 from a grant and a $4,000 gift. Students will decide how much of the gift to allocate based on the proposals.
As part of the process, students set priorities and accept grant proposals from non-profits. The students, who are in grades 10-12, review and score the proposals and debate which ones should receive funding. Last year, for example, the Youth Commission funded several endeavors including hospital equipment, after-school tutoring, teen enrichment and the Merchants Alley renovation.
“These Youth Commissioners are passionate about the endeavors they want to support, and they will argue and defend their position and work toward a compromise so the group as a whole can make a decision,” Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said. “It’s really fun to watch their process, but more importantly, it’s reassuring to me to see their passion about Athens and what they believe will make us a vibrant community.”
The Youth Commission’s priorities this year are:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Recreation
- Special events
- Environmental
- Small business
- Arts
- Helping people in need
“It means a lot that my community trusts its youth to appropriately distribute money,” said Youth Commissioner Claudia Henson. “Their faith in our maturity helps us as students give back to the city that raised us.”
In addition to financially investing in the city, the program gives Youth Commissioners ways to give back with their time. Agencies who submit proposals are asked to provide volunteer opportunities for Youth Commissioners. For example, in recent years students have funded and volunteered with a teen program at the Family Resource Center and funded equipment needs for Athens-Limestone Community Association and then volunteered at the organization’s Black History Month events. ALCA oversees the historic Trinity/Fort Henderson site.
Youth Commissioner Marilyn Swint said that without Youth Commission, “I never would have known about Trinity School and its history. The Trinity School is such a huge part of Athens history, and I am so glad I am now more knowledgeable about that history.”
