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FRAMINGHAM – The City Council is accepting applications for the 13-member Framingham Youth Council through 5 p.m. on Friday, September 24.
The 13-member Youth Council was created by the Framingham City Council in 2019, when then Framingham High senior Isabella Petroni wrote an ordinance asking that the legislative branch of the City change the Charter to create an 11-member Youth Council.
The Youth Council is comprised of 13 individuals – one from each of Framingham’s nine districts nominated by the district city councilors, two nominated by the City Councilors at large; and two appointed by the Mayor.
Members must be between the ages of 13-22, and must reside or vote in Framingham.
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The Mayoral appointees and the Council at-large appointees serve a 2-year term. The nine district Youth Councilors served a one-year term.
Petroni, who is now a junior at the University of New England was elected and re-elected chair by the Council and has served in that position since July 2019. Framingham High student Chloe Mills was elected and re-elected vice chair, and has also served in that position since July 2019
Applications are now being accepted for the 9 district Youth Council positions, the two at-large positions, and the two positions appointed by the Mayor.
The applications are available in English, Spanish, & Portuguese.
The Youth Council now meets twice a month, typically on Sunday afternoons.
Committee Member Duties:
• Evaluating and reviewing issues facing youth in the City.
• Representing youth in the City of Framingham, and advising elected officials and other policy makers regarding matters of interest or concern to young people Providing information to and advocating before public entities including the mayor, municipal government, state government, federal government, police, school districts, and high education institutions, in support of young people in the City of Framingham.
• Providing a structure for all young people in Framingham to learn the value of civic
participation and thereby encouraging lifelong participatory residents.
• Offering policy recommendations on issues affecting and of interest to young people.
• Engaging with young people in Framingham to inform them of opportunities and listening to
their suggestions regarding how the community can better serve its residents.
• Conduct an annual joint meeting with the Superintendents in January of each year.
Applicants shall demonstrate a desire serve as a Youth Council member, to participate in Framingham’s government processes and provide unique perspectives, leadership, and input on matters that shape and influence the future of Framingham
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The Youth Council has five subcommittees each with their own chairs. The goal was to provide more leadership opportunities for all members. Each subcommittee also had a vice chair.
The subcommittes were:
- Diversity & inclusion
- Academic Achievement
- Outreach & Youth Engagement
- Health issues
- Environmental & Sustainability
In the second year of the Youth Council, the Council proposed and pushed the legislative (City Council) and executive branch (Mayor) to passed legislation in the City that required the City to supply free menustral products in all public building bathrooms.
During the pandemic, the Youth Council also focused on mental health and remote education issues.
Mayor Yvonne Spicer, Framingham Superintendent of Schools Bob Tremblay, Keefe Technical Superintendent Jonathan Evans, State Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, State Rep. Maria Robinson, Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Joseph Corazzini and City of Framingham Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officers Maritsa Barros, as well as advisors City Councilor Robert Case and School Committee member Priscila Sousa spoke at and answer questions at Youth Council meetings.
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Representative Jack Lewis 
Source Notifications 
MassBay Community College