Skokie is giving its young residents a formal seat at the table. Trustees gave the go ahead at their Feb. 17 Board meeting for the village to establish a youth commission; a group of 16 Skokie high school students looking to get involved in local government and elevate the voices of their peers. To be eligible for the program, youth members must attend a public or private high school in Skokie, or be a high school student residing in the village. The commission will be appointed by the mayor and Board of Trustees and will include a chair and vice-chair leadership position. The goal of the commission, Assistant to the Village Manager Alex Franz said, is to serve as an “advisory and action-oriented body” that works to elevate “the voices of young people, foster civic engagement and strengthen connections between youth, village government and the broader community.” The village hopes to begin the program in August 2026 and conclude in June 2027 to coincide with the calendar school year. Franz added that engaging youth from “diverse backgrounds and experiences” is especially important to village leadership and that the Board would work to elect voices that represent all the schools in the area. There are two main public high schools, Niles North and Niles West High School, and the private schools educating youth in this age group include: Ida Crown Jewish Academy, a co-educational school; MCC Academy, an Islamic school that has campuses in Skokie and Morton Grove;  Fasman Yeshiva High School, an all-boys Orthodox Jewish high school; and Mesivta Shaarei Admirim, also an all-boys Orthodox Jewish high school. Some Skokie students also attend private schools outside Skokie. Youth Commission members will serve a one-year term unless reappointed and are scheduled to meet bi-monthly, with six annual meetings. The youth outreach coordinator of the Health and Human Services Department will serve as staff liaison. “We all agree that uplifting youth and giving space for their voices and participation in local government is one of the most important parts of our charge as elected officials,” said Skokie Mayor Ann Tennes at the Board meeting. “[The commission] is an opportunity for young people in our community to have a voice in our government and to be incorporated into the governance of our community.” Franz said the village began exploring the idea back in August, when a core group of officials – representatives from the Health and Human Services Department, Police Department, Engineering Division, Human Resources and the Manager’s Office – led a series of meetings to brainstorm and explore “comparative models” from other Illinois municipalities, like Arlington Heights, Aurora, Des Plaines, Elmhurst and Elk Grove Village. Findings from the research helped inform Skokie’s framework for a commission, while ensuring the village incorporated local priorities and needs, Franz added. To accommodate for the additional time and resources of the commission, $18,814 will be proposed for inclusion in the FY27 proposed budget. “What I’m most excited about for students having this opportunity is that it would allow them to hopefully become civically engaged and maybe an elected official one day,” said Trustee Keith Robinson. “It takes a little bit of the fear, confusion, mystery, whatever the students may have, and lets them know exactly how this thing works. Because it is complicated. It is complicated; it ain’t easy.” Parents of current high school students also joined the chorus of support. “I think this is a great idea,” said Tom Whitaker, who identified himself as a parent of a Niles West High School student. “I have received information about how students who go through high school can qualify for the National Honor Society, and part of that is participating in sports or a requirement as a school club,” Whitaker said. “And I would just say that I think part of the youth that participate in this, I would hope that that would qualify towards that application of that society.” Franz said that officials were working with the village’s communications team to increase its outreach efforts and coordination with high schools in the area. The committee plans to communicate with administrators and staff directly, including the Skokie Park District and Skokie Public Library’s youth and team resource programs. “We want to get the commission on their radar,” Franz said. Once the youth commission is codified by the Board, students can apply via the village’s Boards and Commissions application. Trustees are expected to vote on a final approval of the commission on March 2. ...read more read less