By Renae Brown

   “Don’t think that politics is just for older people. … You can actually start in politics as soon as possible,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods to a body of local youth.

   “As young leaders of the high school students, you are uniquely positioned to drive change.”

   Mayor Woods spoke at Tempe Youth Talks, an event that served to inspire civic involvement in the city’s youth held on April 24 on the Tempe Prep campus. It was organized by the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission, or MYAC. 

   MYAC is a commission of 30 high schoolers who work to solve problems in the Tempe community. Six members spoke at the Tempe Youth Talks on different topics including environmental justice and sustainability, youth mental health and unhoused solutions, along with diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. Those members were Vera Lim, Aliz Walker, Axel Forbes, Grace Wombacher, Rucha Sather and TPA senior Tamsin Hurlbut.

    In Vera Lim and Alix Walker’s talk on environmental justice and sustainability, they spoke about the impact of water-based problems and how youth can get involved.

   Axel Forbes presented on youth mental health by presenting on the statistics of suicide. She noted the occurrence of 50,000 suicides in 2023, along with an increasing rate of suicide. Similarly, Grace Wombacher presented on mental health among student athletes.

   Rucha Sather, MYAC’s chairperson, taught about the difference between equality and equity. 

   Tamsin Hurlbut, the vice chair of MYAC, first asked the audience how many of them like their beds and proceeded by talking about problems associated with homelessness. 

   Each speaker gave information about organizations that people can involve themselves in, or services to go to for help. 

   Towards the end of the event, attendees asked questions about abortion, wildlife, business and more. MYAC provided a panel of experts. Dr. Velicia Humes, Evelyn Brumfield and Jessica Wright are employed, respectively, as Tempe’s chief diversity officer, youth climate action coordinator and human services manager-homeless solutions. Another panel expert, Tristyn Rivas, is a Care7 youth specialist. 

   Not only did Mayor Woods speak at the event, but several council members also made an appearance. 

   At the end of the event, many of the attendees shared that they had learned about the seriousness of certain issues, including climate change and homelessness. Mariah Gunnison, a TPA student, said, “I really enjoyed the youth mental health talk and learning about all the resources available and how they’re planning to improve that in the city of Tempe.” 

   Hazel Hurlbut, a sophomore at TPA and part of MYAC’s committee for Diversity Equity and Inclusion, said that “the experiences I’ve had with MYAC … have definitely made me a much more informed and well-rounded person.” 

   Both middle and high school students attended from all over Tempe. They came from Kyrene Middle School, several schools of the Tempe Union High School District and more. 

   Of the MYAC high school speakers at this event, each one currently studies at Corona Del Sol, a school in the Tempe Union High School District, except for Tamsin.

   In the end, attendees left with an elevated understanding of Tempe’s initiatives and a greater knowledge of how to make a change.