The Mayor's Youth Council was established in 2021 to create a platform for high-performing and high-potential young people to have meaningful and effective roles in the City’s policy and decision-making processes. Currently, 15 high school students serve as members and work collaboratively to identify and address issues around community organizing, leadership, and advocacy. As representatives of Knoxville’s youth, Council members will be responsible for elevating all youth voices through consistent communication with young people living in Knoxville. 

The Mayor's Youth Council is led by Emily Norris, Youth Engagement Coordinator and she can be reached at [email protected].


APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS

The Mayor’s Youth Council consists of up to 15 young people that serve a one-year term with the option of serving a second one-year term.  

2026-27 COUNCIL MEMBERS


AUSTIN-EAST MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
Jolene Selifis
Darion Smith

CAREER MAGNET ACADEMY
Jaydon Carter

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Willow Singleton-Linson

CLAYTON BRADLEY ACADEMY
Anadi Patel

FULTON HIGH SCHOOL
Iyana Cooke
Jesus Ventura Flores
Lauren Thomas

L&N STEM ACADEMY
Kyle Harper

POWELL HIGH SCHOOL
Saderia Gillespie

TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Nicholas Medley

WEBB SCHOOL OF KNOXVILLE
Gabriel Little

WEST HIGH SCHOOL
Ayman Aghel
Grace Templeton
Maeve Yazdi


MEETINGS SCHEDULE

The council meets every 4th Sunday of the month. Primary activities will include education on municipal services, collaborations with peers and youth-serving nonprofit organizations, and strategic planning, focusing on the following identified Action Committees: Homelessness, Violence Prevention, Civic Engagement and Mental Health and Trauma.