LEWISTON – The Lewiston Youth Advisory Council is being touted by the Department of Education’s Maine Citizenship Education Task Force as a model for youth civic engagement. As such, four members of the group presented information on the council’s work at the Oct. 20 Communities for Children and Youth Conference at the Augusta Civic Center.

The Maine Citizenship Education Task Force, enacted by the state Legislature in 2004, comprises more than 50 education, community and policymaking stakeholders who are committed to making students’ civic learning and engagement a priority in every school, community and higher education institution in Maine, as well as in comprehensive school reform.

Fran Rudoff, task force member and director of the KIDS Consortium, who facilitated the session the youth presented at, noted, “We’re very excited to be able to include the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council on the Web site and in our work. We’re also pleased that the city of Lewiston has taken steps to encourage young people to participate in the community’s civic life, as by doing so, the city is assisting them in acquiring the knowledge and skills to be effective citizens.”

Presenting for the youth council were Ally Beaucage, Ashley Morgan, Rachel Spilecki and Tim Stretton. A summary of the council’s work will soon be launched on the task force Web site as a case study regarding youth advisory councils.

First meeting as a group in 2002, the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council has contributed to the community with such projects as a noise pollution awareness campaign, an Is Your Number Up residence/business address posting campaign with the Lewiston Fire Department, more than over $25,000 for the the multi-level historic siting of the city’s 1891 E. Howard timepiece, as well as participating in several municipal efforts and commenting on various pieces of Maine legislation.

Currently, the council is working toward the placement of two electronic message boards at the entrances of Lewiston High School, in partnership with the Lewiston School Department, and is taking the lead role on nominating the city of Lewiston as a 2006 All America City.