August 19, 2009 | Story by: Lindsey Chester | Categories: Community
Wesley Lo, Chairman, with the Cary Teen Council. Staff photo by Lindsey Chester.
Tuesday, August 18, Cary’s Teen Council celebrated 20 years of teens making a difference in our community. The milestone was marked by a meeting in Town Council Chambers with teen leaders taking the seats of the elected officials.
Heather Wilkin Black, a charter member of the Teen Council, provided one of the most memorable moments of the evening. She recalled how in 1989 her family and several others approached the Town Council to “create a small solution to a growing problem – bored teens with nothing to do.” They focused on social events for Cary youth, dances in Salt Box Village storefronts and a Battle of the Bands.
In the intervening 20 years, the Council has expanded from a social club to an award-winning service organization with 420 current middle and high school members. The Teen Council has a strong presence at the State level where 4 of the 7 Youth board members hail from Cary.
“I am honored to recognize the Teen Council for their dedication to promoting leadership skills among our community’s most promising youths,” said Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “Through the Teen Council, our young people are working with fellow teens to serve the communities that they live in through volunteerism, and they are actively engaging in the decision making process.”
Each year, teens on the Council volunteer for a variety of programs and events that focus on social, recreational, community awareness, service, education, leadership, teamwork and fund raising. Typical activities include:
Teens ages 11-18 interested in joining the Teen Council can mail a completed membership application (accepted in June & December) along with a one-time membership fee of $20.00 (fee includes a Cary Teen Council T-Shirt), payable to Cary Teen Council, to: Cary Teen Council; c/o Cary Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department; P.O. Box 8005; Cary, N.C. 27512-8005.
For more information, visit Cary Teen Council or call (919) 460-4965.
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