PAUL YOUNG
Mayor
BRIAN
HARRIS
Director, Memphis Office Of Youth Services
2023 MEMPHIS YOUTH CITY COUNCIL
The Memphis Youth City Council is modeled after the Memphis City Council. It consists of 13 students, each elected by peers at their own school after running their campaigns. Seats 1-7 are filled by the winning candidates from one school per district. The remaining six seats are filled by the winning candidates from six schools within the two super districts.
The Memphis Youth City Council will benefit from having a diverse group of students—not just “top scorers”—as all students are encouraged to contribute their innovative, helpful ideas. Deciding candidates through student election is one way of ensuring this diversity. It engages more students in the electoral process and helps them understand the importance of community participation. The school lottery is designed so that all schools throughout Memphis will eventually have the chance for a representative to participate on the MYCC.
Madisyn Henry
District 1
Madisyn is a senior at Middle College High School. She’s an active member of the Memphis Ambassador’s Program, the National Honor Society, and Bridges which has led her to become a part of the Memphis Youth City Council. As a member of the Memphis City Youth Council, her goal is tomake Memphis a place for youth to connect, raise their voice, and become catalysts for community change.
Nadia Askew
District 1
Nadia Askew is a senior at Overton High School who has always been involved in her community. She’s been a loyal member to her school and community’s volleyball team, spirit club , and helped with countless school events such as games and programs. Through these activities, her efforts, hard work and dedication resulted in her becoming a member of the 2023-2024 Memphis Youth City Council cohort. Throughout her high school years, she always remained involved by assisting her community by doing community service, and serving as a peer mediator. Nadia’s Primary goal is to lower the crime rate in Memphis Tennessee. As an MYCC member, she hopes to build connections, serve as a voice for the youth and partake in restoring the pride in the City of Memphis.
Amanda Simpson
District 3
Amanda Simpson is a senior at Overton High School who is active in her community inside and outside of school. She is involved in 14 extracurricular activities, including being Co-President of Student Government, President Emeritus of the National Honor Society, a graphic design entrepreneur, etc. Through the Memphis Ambassadors Program, Amanda was introduced to and enlightened by the 2023–2024 Memphis Youth City Council. Throughout her high school career, Amanda always remained persistent in her role as Student Government and planned multiple events suggested by the student body. Amanda’s goal is to help create opportunities for youth engagement, and she believes that their perspectives are imperative in shaping policies and initiatives that directly impact them. As an MYCC member, Amanda is determined to make a positive impact on the city of Memphis and inspire other young leaders to do the same.
Charlie Blackshire
District 3
Charlie is a junior at Memphis East High School who has always been active and involved. He is a student ambassador, National Honors Society member, National Society of High School Scholars member, student in band, Battalion S-2 in JROTC, and student-athlete. Through these activities, his efforts resulted in him becoming a part of the 2023-2024 Memphis Youth City Council cohort. Charlie’s primary goal is to offer as much help to the youth as possible in areas like entertainment, engagement, mental health, and speech in the City of Memphis. As an MYCC leader, he hopes to leave an everlasting impact on his cohort while he continues to aid his community.
Gabrielle Causey
District 4
Gabrielle is a senior at Middle College High School. She has always been interested in bringing fine arts opportunities to the low income communities around her. She is passionate about string instruments and volunteers as well as interns for the non-profit "Harmonic South String Orchestra '' where she instructs young children on how to read music and play string instruments. Gabrielle's primary goal is to raise more awareness and support for the non-profits in Memphis that work to better our community. As a member of the MYCC she hopes that she can make Memphis residents' quality of life better by pointing them to the resources they may be blind to.
Hannah Houston
District 5
Hannah is a remarkable senior at Central High School, who represents an example of dedication and community involvement. With an impressive track record, Hannah has been a proud member of the Memphis Ambassadors Program for five years, where she has worked hard to represent her city with pride. Not only that Hannah is a dedicated Girl Scout where she embodies the values of leadership, service, and community engagement. Hannah's commitment to her school community is equally commendable. She holds a position on the Executive Board for the Student Council, Secretary for Mu Alpha Theta, participant for Theater club, Green Club, International Club, and more! While doing all of that Hannah maintains a 4.0 GPA, all while attending pharmacy technician night school. Beyond her academic and extracurricular achievements, Hannah's true passion lies in being a servant to her community and a voice for the youth. Through this role of being a MYCC leader
Hannah expresses her energy and enthusiasm to represent the voice and heart of the youth in memphis.
Makenzie Walker
District 6
Makenzie is a senior at Whitehaven High School who’s never afraid to lend a helping hand. She’s an active member of her school’s debate and gardening club and a knowledge bowl member. Makenzie values creativity and self-expression incorporating it in every aspect of her life. Through MYCC, she hopes to beautify Memphis and help create programs that would allow the youth to express themselves through any creative means. She believes that she can help build a better future for the city and its youth with hard work and dedication.
Bethany Davis
District 7
Bethany is a senior at THE Memphis Central High school. Bethany has always had a passion for being a voice for the quieter people because it reminds her of who she used to be. Bethany participates in her schools marching band, executive student council board, and is treasurer for National Honor Society. Through all of her hard work led to her being a part of the 2023-2024 Memphis Youth City Council where she hopes to continue her role in being a voice for the youth.
Kaitlyn Woodland
District 9
Meet Kaitlyn, a dynamic 17-year-old hailing from a charming small town, known for her boundless enthusiasm. She is a member of the Memphis Youth City Council for the 2023-2024 cohort. As a highschool senior, she's a fervent student of the cinematic arts, constantly dissecting movies for inspiration. However, her true passion lies in the world of dance. With every graceful step and mesmerizing routine, Kaitlyn expresses her innermost emotions. She dreams of pursuing a career in dance and aspires to revolutionize the industry with her unique style and storytelling. As MYCC Member her infectious energy and artistic vision promise to leave an indelible mark on the world of performing arts and our community.
Jamya Wheeler
District 9-4
Jamya is a senior at Whitehaven High School who is passionate about her community, especially the youth. She is an active member of the garden club, debate team, and Memphis Ambassadors Program. Being an advocate and a voice for others in these programs allowed her to be a part of and passionate about the Memphis Youth City Council. Throughout her high school experience, it has been her top priority to be there for her community through volunteering and community service. Jamya’s primary goal for her community is to create a safe and loving place for the youth of Memphis to grow and develop. As a leader in MYCC, she aspires to be the change for her community while being a voice for the youth.
Javion White
District 9-11
Javion is a junior dual-enrollment student at Medical District High School who has an interest in being involved in his community. Throughout his high school career, he has accumulated over 22 hours of community service from volunteering at non-profits such as Memphis Rox and Catholic Charities of West Tennessee. Since sophomore year, Javion has been a member of the Memphis Ambassadors Program and an advocate for youth on the government level in the Shelby County Youth Council. Javion serves as a councilman for the Memphis Youth City Council and his main goals are to get youth more involved in decisions that will affect them and make youth more aware of careers and other post-secondary opportunities. He strives to make lasting positive change in the community.
McKenzie Brittingham
District 10
McKenzie is a senior at crosstown High School who has always been interested in helping her community. She’s been active in student council, and school communication activities . Through these activities, her efforts resulted in her becoming a part of the 2023-2024 Memphis Youth City Council. During school hours and after McKenzie , found ways to remain involved in assisting her community by feeding at her local church on Saturday . McKenzie's primary goal is to lower the youth mental health rate in the City of Memphis. As an MYCC member , she hopes to leave an everlasting impact on her cohort while she continues to help her community.
Julius Forde
District 11
Julius is a senior at THE Memphis Central High school. Service to people has always been his felt to be "life mission". Julius participates in his schools marching band,engineering club and Boy Scouts of America where he earned the higest rank Eagle Scout. These efforts led to him becoming a part of the 2023-2024 Memphis Youth City Council where he hopes to continue his mission in helping as many people by being a voice for our youth.
Starlá Gates
District 12
Starlá Gates is a senior at Southwind High School. She’s always been drawn to leadership positions that could have a positive impact on everyone. Starlá also serves as the secretary of her schools Technology Student Association and is a member of the Jag Squad, which is an in-school organization dedicated to volunteering in various ways throughout the school building and tutoring k-12 students. Her motivation to become a leader in her community and make the best out of what’s available has led her to become a member of the Memphis Ambassadors Program and the 2023-2024 Memphis Youth City Council Cohort. Her summer research internship at St. Jude helped her sharpen her writing and communication skills, which is what ultimately makes her an effective secretary in both MYCC and TSA. As an MYCC leader, her goal is to strengthen financial literacy among youth and make various post secondary opportunities more easily accessible to youth from all parts of Memphis.
Stephen Johnson
District 12
Stephen is a junior at Memphis East High School and has always been a helping hand for the community. He’s an active member of the National Honors Society, National Beta Club, Memphis Ambassador’s Program, and Bridge Builders. Due to his engagement in the Memphis Ambassador’s Program, Stephen was offered the opportunity to join the 2023-2024 Memphis Youth City Council team. As a member of the MYCC, he is looking forward to increasing the youth engagement within the city to give teens more positive but fun ways to interact with each other.