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