03/19/2026
A Day of Leadership: Picayune’s Youth Council Visits the State Capitol
Mayor Jim Luke and a small group from the Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC) traveled to Jackson today for an immersive look at Mississippi’s government in action. Representing the council were MYC Mayor Jayden Wagner, Councilman Dreadon Boone, and members Chris Johnson and Sophia Dorn. The group, accompanied by Special Projects Director Lisa Albritton, City Clerk Sid Albritton, and Deputy City Clerk Taylor Stockstill, spent the day engaging directly with the state’s top decision-makers.
The educational experience was highlighted by a special meeting with Governor Tate Reeves, where the students had the opportunity to discuss leadership at the highest level of state government. From there, the group moved to the Senate floor, hosted by Senator Angela Hill. Although the chambers had adjourned for the day, the students were able to step onto the floor to learn about the Capitol’s historic architecture and the legislative process. While visiting the Senate, the group also had the pleasure of being greeted by Senator Philman Ladner.
The hospitality continued on the House side, where Representative Timmy Hulum invited the council onto the House floor. There, they were greeted by Representative Stacey Wilkes and spent time learning about the inner workings of the House of Representatives. Throughout the tour, the legislators engaged the students in meaningful Q&A sessions, answering their questions about public service and how laws are crafted for our communities. There were also questions asked of other Representatives in the vicinity.
To round out their understanding of the legislative environment, the council held a final Q&A session with Butler Snow lobbyist Neal Ricks to discuss his role in government. The day of learning concluded with a lunch at Keifer’s before the group headed back home. It was an incredible day of growth for these "leaders of tomorrow," and we are proud of how well they represented Picayune at our State Capitol.
