1 Press Release (Revised 01/24/2017)
Macon-Bibb Consolidated Government Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students
National League of Cities | City Summit
GCAPS
MACON-BIBB COUNTY GEORGIA CIVIC AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS (GCAPS)
PRESS RELEASE Date: January 24, 2017
Contact: Charles L. Coney, Assistant County Manager | Mayor’s Office (478) 751-7170
“Macon-Bibb Youth Commissioner to serve on the
National League of Cities Council on Youth, Education, and Families”
Rushabh (Rush) Patel, a Macon-Bibb County Youth Commissioner and a sophomore at
Stratford Academy has been selected to be a board member of the prestigious National
League of Cities (NLC) Council on Youth, Education, and Families. NLC’s Council on Youth,
Education, and Families (YEF Council) guides and oversees the YEF Institute’s work. The 30
person membership of this Council, unlike any other NLC committee or council, is composed
of not only local elected officials but also youth members and representatives from major
national organizations concerned about children and families. Five (5) youth members were
selected from a nationally competitive application and interview process. As shared in his
essay and application, Rush believes, “NLC’s ability to conjure a connection of communities
for the betterment of cities is exceedingly important. The incorporation of youth into the
governing structures of society is quite crucial for the future of society. Training of the future
leaders of the world should start early. Through NLC’s youth engagement, we will be able to
retain the good qualities of governance and reform and learn from its mistakes. The world is a
complicated place, and in order to decipher it, we must start early.”
YEF youth board members have full membership in the Council and are placed in the role for their viewpoints not just on youth related
matters, but on all topics that come
before the Council. In its fifteen
years of existence, YEF has
contributed greatly to the strategic
direction of the National League of
Cities. NLC is dedicated to helping
city leaders build better
communities. As such, NLC is a
resource and advocate for 19,000
cities, towns and villages,
representing more than 218 million
Americans. Rush was fortunate to
represent Macon-Bibb County as a
Youth Delegate in Pittsburgh
during the National League of
Cities 2016 City Summit (formerly
known as the Congress of Cities) this
past November. During the convening,
more than 3,000 local leaders (mayors,
Macon-Bibb County attendees at the 2016 City Summit included Alisha Duhart, Youth Commission Coordinator;
Youth Commissioner Madison Williams (Mount de Sales Academy); Youth Commissioner William Myles McKay
(Westside High School); Barbara Bivins, Youth Commission Chaperone; Mayor Pro Tem Bert Bivins; Youth
Commissioner Veronica Zambrano (Rutland High School); Youth Commissioner Rushabh Patel (Stratford
Academy); and Assistant County Manager Charles Coney.
councilmembers, and city staff) networked, discussed city priorities, and learned best practices. The conference offered informative
workshops, mobile tours, and education sessions at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Speakers such as Terry Bradshaw,
Hall of Fame NFL quarterback and sports broadcaster at FOX; Candy Crowley, award-winning journalist who served as CNN’s chief
political correspondent; and Vernice “Flygirl” Armour, America's First African American female combat pilot headlined and provided
phenominal inspiration to the Conference.
Ironically, the official notice regarding Rush’s
YEF board membership came yesterday while
he was representing Macon-Bibb County at the
Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) 2017
Mayors’ Day Conference which took place
January 20-23 in Atlanta at the Marriott Marquis.
Over 700 Georgia elected officials advocated for
cities, enhanced their understanding of
government, expanded and debated policy
matters, and attended the culminating legislative
networking breakfast with updates from
Governor Nathan Deal, Lieutenant Governor
Casey Cagle, and Speaker of the House David
Ralston. U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson has been
a long-standing attendee of the conference, but
was unable to attend. In his stead, a personal
video communicated his outlook and
commitment to Georgia. For its second year,
the GMA offered a Youth Conference inside of
the larger conference with limited city
delegations from across the state. Macon-Bibb
County’s selection of five (5) delegates was
driven by a competitive essay contest using the
theme, “If I Were Mayor…” Rush wrote in his
essay, “If I were mayor, I would ensure the
livelihood of the city. As mayor, I would not allow for any part of the city to decline. The unification of all the people in the city would be
the ultimate goal. I would invest in the hearth and connectedness of the city. I would like to create a close-knit community, where there
is harmony and success. From the economy, to recreation, to opportunity, I would make sure the city is the ‘full package.’ If I were
mayor, I would do everything in my power to better the city for the people.” From these comments, it is no wonder that his leadership
and perspective has afforded him representation locally, at state conferences, and now on the national stage.
Membership on NLC’s Council of Youth, Education, and Families is an opportunity for youth to have an ongoing voice in the work of
NLC including its national efforts to promote youth participation in civic affairs. The Council provides advisory support to the NLC’s
Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute) which grew out of the belief that to thrive, cities need strong leaders who
make the education, safety and health of the families and children in their communities a citywide priority. With expertise in early
childhood success, education and expanded learning, health and community wellness, reengagement of disconnected youth, and
family economic success, the YEF Institute is the go-to place for city leaders seeking to improve outcomes for children and families.
According to Laura Furr, Program Manager, “As a new NLC YEF Council Board Member, Rushabh will acquire new governmental skills
and knowledge, develop a greater sense of the public sector, and forge meaningful connections to other youth and adults. We welcome
him and look forward to his representation.”
Rushabh Patel is the son of Dr. Dipesh & Mrs. Alpa Patel. He is a sophomore at Stratford Academy and the captain of the debate
team which has been ranked in the top 100 in the nation. Rush is a member of the Model United Nations team which takes
policymaking to tournaments on the international level. Believing he has a strong voice and the ability to get things done in an
organized, structured fashion, he is passionate about continually developing his leadership skills because his generation will be the
leaders soon.
Macon-Bibb County delegates on stage with National League of Cities Board of Directors Member
and Union City, Georgia Mayor Vince Williams at the 2016 City Summit.
National League of Cities 2016 City Summit Keynote Speaker Terry Bradshaw, Hall of Fame NFL quarterback and sports broadcaster at FOX with NLC outgoing President
Melodee Colbert-Kean (Joplin, Mo. Councilmember and former Mayor) and incoming President Matt Zone (Councilmember, Cleveland, Ohio).
Youth Delegates at the National League of Cities 2016 City Summit networking and collaborating during their break-out sessions.
National League of Cities 2016 City Summit Attendees from across the State of Georgia--Alan Dickerson, Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Director, Training and
Member Services; LaGrange Council Member Norma Tucker (also Chair of the GMA Municipal Training Board; Unknown; NLC Board of Directors Member and Union City
Mayor Vince Williams; Union City Councilman Brian Jones; Atlanta Council Member Joyce Sheperd; Bill Thornton, GMA Deputy Executive Director; NLC Board of Directors
Member and Savannah Alderman Van Johnson.
Macon-Bibb County Youth Delegates to the National League of
Cities 2016 City Summit with Keynote Speaker Vernice
“FlyGirl” Armour, America’s First African American Female
Combat Pilot.
National League of Cities 2016 City Summit
Keynote Speaker Candy Crowley, award-winning
journalist who served as CNN's chief political
correspondent with the Macon-Bibb County
Delegation following her powerful delivery.
Macon-Bibb County Delegation in a private tour of Mayor William Peduto’s office at the Pittsburgh City County Building.
Around the Pittsburgh City Hall dais during our Learning Session regarding City of
Pittsburgh Government hosted by Council President Bruce A. Kraus (rear center)
and City Clerk Mary Beth Doheny (front right). Examining historic documents in the Pittsburgh City Hall vault.
The Macon-Bibb County Youth Commission is a locally administered cohort of the Georgia Civic Awareness
Program for Students (GCAPS) developed by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) staff
and county officials to address the need for increased civic involvement and awareness among our state's
youth. The Bibb County Board of Commissioners established its program in 2012 with a $3,750 grant from
ACCG. The 2014-2015 cohort was the first under the newly consolidated Macon-Bibb County government.
We look forward to even more progress with the 2016-2017 cohort. To date, over 100 students have
participated in the program. Youth gain knowledge about their local governments through hands-on learning
experiences and witness firsthand the decision making process. The objective of GCAPS is simple: to educate young citizens about
the importance of being actively conscious of their local government environment and the opportunities available in the public sector.
GCAPS provides civic education by exposing high school students to the role that local government plays and by introducing them to
the leaders who make local governments work. As a result of GCAPS, youth become engaged in their communities and become better
informed citizens, they also learn valuable leadership skills and have the opportunity to create and implement civic awareness projects.
Macon-Bibb County’s cohort is administered by Assistant County Manager Charles Coney with Mayor Pro Tem Bert Bivins as its
Ambassador.
# # #
Rushabh Patel and other Youth Delegates at the National League of Cities 2016 City Summit getting to know each other through policy debates and “ice breaker” selfies.
Macon-Bibb County Youth Commissioners William Myles McKay and Rushabh Patel at the
podium during the National League of Cities 2016 City Summit. Pittsburgh’s 56th Annual “Light Up Night” took over downtown with music
and merriment kicking off the holiday season. Over 500K people attended.
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Macon-Bibb Consolidated Government Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students 2016-2017 Youth Commission
Youth Leadership Program
GCAPS Orientation Cox Capitol Theatre | August 30, 2016
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Commissioner Bert Bivins, Ambassador
Charles L. Coney, Assistant County Manager
Alisha Duhart, Program Coordinator
Cole Porter, Mercer University Intern
Sharrieff Muhammad, Middle Georgia State Intern
Marlon Baldwin, Industry Development Authority
Amber Giltz, Law Enforcement Center
Dominique Lewis, Recreation
Kari Mateling, Cooperative Extension
Crystal Rutherford, Law Enforcement Center
Sedrick Swan, Recreation
Chief Brenda Thomas, Fire Administration
Macon-Bibb County 700 Poplar Street | P. O. Box 247 Macon, Georgia 31202-0247 Tel: (478) 751-7170 Fax: (478) 751-7931 www.maconbibb.us
“Training in excellence from youth upward makes a person passionately desire to be a perfect citizen, and teaches him to rule, and to obey, with justice.”
Plato
GCAPS
Macon-Bibb County GCAPS Leadership Team