YOUTH
PROGRAM

Engagement & Education for Aspiring Municipal Leaders

Each year, the National League of Cities welcomes young leaders from across the country to City Summit to participate in a program designed for youth mentoring and education. Comprised of high school leaders serving in their communities as activists and youth council members, our Youth Delegate Planning Committee has developed this engaging program specifically for youth leaders like themselves. 

By participating, you will benefit from…

  • Engaging leadership-building opportunities with peers and municipal leaders;
  • Social and networking opportunities with fellow youth delegates, mentors and elected officials;
  • Opportunities to gain real-world experience through workshops and activities;
  • Learning about challenges and solutions from inspiring speakers and presenters, and
  • A spotlight on youth voice and youth councils in government.

THURSDAY

NOV 16

12:00pm – 1:00pm
Opening Lunch Schedule

1:30pm – 3:00pm
NLC Opening General Session

4:00pm – 5:15pm
Workshop #1 – Best Practices Sharing  

FRIDAY

NOV 17

9:00am – 10:30am 
City Summit General Session

10:45am – 12:00pm 
Workshop #2 – Leaning into Red Tape  

12:15pm – 2:00pm 
Attendee Luncheon in Expo Hall

1:15pm – 2:00pm 
UNICEF USA Workshop

2:00pm – 3:15pm 
Workshop #3 Strategies for Success: Social Media Outreach for Youth Councils  

3:30pm – 5:00pm 
Afternoon General Session   

6:30pm – 9: 30pm 
Youth Evening Event 

 
  

SATURDAY

NOV 18

9:00am – 10:15am 
Take a Note to Vote  

11:00am – 12:15pm 
Youth Delegates Closing Session

12:00pm – 1:45pm
City Summit Closing General Session & Delegates Luncheon

*Please note that the City Summit closing event hosted by the City of Atlanta is a 21+ event.

Youth Workshops

Best Practices

Our primary objectives are to foster meaningful networking among youth delegates and empower them to devise innovative initiatives aimed at improving their respective cities. The event framework will concentrate on participants not only developing but also presenting their initiatives, with an emphasis on quality and innovation. The ultimate goal is to inspire positive change in their communities by encouraging constructive civic engagement.

Leaning Into Red Tape

Hear from a panel of experts and engage in an interactive session on problem solving. Attendees will increase their understanding of the municipal problem-solving process, gain a brighter outlook on the possibilities for problem-solving in the municipal, and get motivated to affect change in municipal government.

Take a Note to Vote

This workshop is an interactive and informative event aimed at inspiring and educating young people about the significance of their vote while encouraging their active participation in the democratic process. Explore the various types of elections and the importance of participation in the electoral process. Hear from expert speakers and even register to vote in your state, if you want to. This workshop is designed to empower young people, equip them with knowledge about their civic responsibilities, and inspire them to be active participants in shaping their communities and their nation’s future through the power of their vote.

Strategies for Success: Social Media Outreach for Youth Councils

This interactive workshop will explore how youth councils can utilize social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to promote their initiatives, events, and advocacy. Through group video projects, discussions with city communications staff, and case studies of successful youth council accounts, participants will learn best practices for social media outreach. By the end, youth council members will have hands-on experience creating social media content and actionable tips for growing their online presence!

Registration Requirements

A Youth Delegate is a high school student, aged 13 through 18, who is engaged in a youth council/advisory board or other civic activity. Please use these other registration categories if you are not a Youth Delegate:

• Students are students in higher education institutions attending the conference for academic purposes.
• Spouse/Guests may include children under the age of 13, typically children of elected officials attending the conference.
• Neither Students nor Guests participate in Youth Delegate activities.

For questions about registration contact Maritz Global Events at: nlccs@maritz.com.  For all other conference-related questions reach out to conferences@nlc.org.