City of Plainfield to Host High School Students in “Youth Take Over”

PLAINFIELD, NJ – The City of Plainfield has joined with the GrassROOTS Community Foundation to host a “Youth Take Over” at City Hall. The one-day event serves to educate, promote civic engagement, and expose Plainfield High School students to career opportunities in public service.

The students will be taken to City Hall where they will meet the Mayor, have breakfast with their adult mentors and go through a job orientation. Throughout the day, they will shadow the mentors, learning how government works. The day will culminate in a youth town council and an award ceremony that acknowledges youth leadership. Thirty-seven city officials and 60 students will participate in the day’s activities.

The goals of the event are to help students:

• Think about their futures
• Think about careers that may be of interest to them
• Learn about required education and other resources needed to achieve their goals
• Develop an understanding of local government operations and management
• Participate and discuss community issues and develop solutions

“This event is not only about exposing our youth to the inner workings of our City Government,” said Mayor Adrian O. Mapp.  “It’s also about lighting a spark which can lead to civic engagement on several levels. Our youth is our biggest asset; providing mentorship and paths to education is not merely an act of goodwill but one of obligation. This “Youth Take Over” initiative is just one of the many creative ways that my administration seeks to engage that responsibility and build the City’s legacy for the future.”

“We are honored to work with Mayor Mapp and the City of Plainfield, and we are especially pleased that Mayor Mapp has put youth at the center of his efforts to foster community well-being,” said Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, President of GrassROOTS Community Foundation.

The GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF) is a public health and social action organization that supports, develops and scales health and wellness programs for women and girls, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged.

The event will take place on Monday, May 22^nd at 9:00 am.