The City of Suwanee has named the members of its fourth Suwanee Youth Leaders (SYL) Class for the year 2017. These students were chosen based on a combination of the strength of application, feedback from a student-led selection committee made up of recent SYL graduates, recommendations from teachers and school administrators, academic performance, and extracurricular resume. 

SYL is an eight-month leadership program for high school sophomores and juniors who attend public, private, or home-based schools and live within the North Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge, or Collins Hills cluster districts. The program centers on civic involvement, leadership skills, and volunteer opportunities. SYL develops young leaders through structured monthly educational programs and teambuilding activities. Participants gain genuine exposure to local initiatives and community and civic leaders, while also allowing the City to engage with youth providing a strong voice and active role in planning the City's success. Meetings, led by local leaders, include subjects such as leadership principles and practices, ethics in society, law and justice, and community involvement. The program culminates with hands-on service opportunities at Suwanee Fest, serving alongside adult volunteers from the community.

The SYL Class of 2016 recently won a Southeast Festivals and Events Association Bronze Kaleidoscope Award for Most Creative Idea for collaboration between the Suwanee Youth Leaders and Suwanee Fest transportation. SYL also won an Atlanta Regional Commission 2016 CREATE Community Award in the category of Educational Excellence.

"The Suwanee Youth Leaders program allows the City to make a genuine commitment to the youth in our community," said Suwanee Downtown Business & Development Manager Adam Edge, a co-leader of the program. "While it's an honor to win a CREATE Community Award, it's an even greater reward to see kids becoming invested in their community through this initiative."

Thanks to SYL, said Assistant City Manager Denise Brinson, "We now have a group of young people who have more knowledge of their community and how local government works and the work that goes into building community. The City wanted to develop a real connection with our schools and find a way to meaningfully encourage youth involvement as prescribed in our strategic plan – not just checking a box, but building sincere, authentic relationships."

Congratulations to the Suwanee Youth Leaders Class of 2017: