11/20/2023
Fourteen years ago on the third Monday night in November, I attended my very first council meeting in Louisburg. Three of my classmates and I had been selected to represent the town at a youth summit hosted by the NC League of Municipalities a few weeks before & we'd been invited to the following meeting for a brief recognition. I still have the certificate, it turns out!
I don't recall a whole lot about that meeting other than a few of those serving, but I do remember being struck by how honestly neat it was to watch familiar faces take time out of their lives to come together and work for something greater, even if the something greater that week was "just" discussing public works maintenance or minor zoning tweaks.
I didn't understand at the time the significance of sending a bunch of teenagers on a Saturday day trip to Pitt County, but now I think I do. Investing in our youth is just as vital for the future as any comprehensive plan or budget session. Make an effort to show they're valued members of their home community even as teens and they may just surprise you as adults!