Students Take the Lead in Bellevue Mayor’s Youth Council

By Breanna Doyle, Bellevue Mayor’s Youth Council Communications Director

The Bellevue Mayor’s Youth Council was founded in fall 2024 for youth to get involved with their community and their local government. These students represent Bellevue at planned functions around the community. The Youth Council has guidance from Police Chief Ken Clary, Councilwoman Kathy Welch, and Mayor Rusty Hike. These meetings are student-run, where they elect their own officers to lead the group and form committees such as communications, social media and more.

The Youth Council has worked on projects for the community such as Bellevue Earth Day and Bellevue Rocks!. The Youth Council helped set up these events and sold t-shirts to attendees. Another event that the council has been directly involved in is hosting an ice cream social at Hillcrest Mable Rose Assisted Living Facility. Some future projects that the Youth Council has planned are attending the Veterans Day Parade and volunteering with Bellevue Together, along with more exciting projects to come.

Our mission statement: The Bellevue Mayor’s Youth Council is dedicated to amplifying the voices of young people by providing meaningful input on issues affecting youth and the City of Bellevue. We strive to foster civic engagement by making recommendations to the City Council, increasing youth participation in local government, and improving communication between students and city leaders. Through service projects and community involvement, we are committed to making a positive impact and shaping a more inclusive and vibrant Bellevue for all.