Larson Names Local Students to the First Congressional District Youth Cabinet

February 26, 2009

Contact: Paul Mounds 860-278-8888

Larson Names Local Students to the First Congressional Youth Advisory Cabinet

Larson: "Together, we can be a strong catalyst for our most promising policies affecting children and youth"

Hartford, CT- Today, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) announced the first official class of students who will serve on the First Congressional District Youth Cabinet. This historic announcement will transform the role the youth of Connecticut will have with their government.

The youth cabinet, the first youth advisory board of its kind in the nation, will serve as an advisory board to Congressman Larson on issues facing young Americans across the nation. The creation of the cabinet will help foster a stronger relationship between the young people of the district and their government and give them an unique prospective on public service. The enhanced exposure provided to the cabinet members to their government and their elected officials will allow them to share the value of public service with their peers.

"Elected officials have not fully utilized the voice of our youth. All across the country, governments on the municipal, state, and federal levels, create legislation that directly affects the well-being of our youth" said Larson. "With much expected of them, it is imperative that our leaders provide the youth of our nation a meaningful role in the creation of policies affecting their everyday lives. I am proud to do so today, by naming the inaugural class of the first congressional youth cabinet in the country"

The youth cabinet is a non-partisan, non-political entity consisting of youth from the cities and towns within the First Congressional District. Members of the cabinet are between the ages of thirteen and eighteen years old and were nominated by their town's superintendent of schools or their high school principal to serve on the cabinet for a two year term.

"As a former teacher, I believe in the incredible talents that exist in every young person. I was truly impressed with the qualifications and backgrounds of this group. They are exceptional students in and out of the classroom, active members of their community, and upstanding citizens of goodwill. Together, we can be a strong catalyst for our most promising policies affecting children and youth."

The following are the members of the inaugural First Congressional Youth Cabinet: