A Brookhaven city employee is undertaking an effort to bringgovernment out of the classroom and into the city aldermenmeetings.

Shannon Bowden is now seeking applications for her BrookhavenYouth City Council, a planned team of 12 students in grades 9-12from any high school in the county who will attend at least twoaldermen meetings in August for a first hand look at how citygovernment works.

“I’m looking for energetic students who are willing to learnabout our government,” Bowden said. “This program will give ouryouth something positive to do, will get them involved and let thealdermen hear a voice from the youth’s perspective.”

Students can pick up applications at several locations,including the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, cityclerk’s office, both the Brookhaven and Lincoln County schooldistrict offices and the Brookhaven Academy principal’s office.

In order to qualify, students must have at least a 2.5 gradepoint average and be in high school. Participation in a governmentor political science class is not required.

“I had thought about just picking students from a governmentclass, but this way anyone who is interested can participate,”Bowden said.

The deadline for submitting applications is July 31. Bowden isalso recruiting local businesses to donate $75 each in sponsorshipof the program.

Bowden said the idea to form the youth city council sprang fromher own interest in government. She is a regular at aldermenmeetings.

“It just came to me to start a youth chapter so kids can getconcerned and inspired about our city government,” she said. “Ihope the program inspires them to go on to college, get a degreeand come back and become city officials themselves.”

Bowden said the city youth council would be given no specialtreatment – the youth city council is not sponsored by the board ofaldermen, but is entirely independent. Members will sit in onmeetings just like any other citizen, and likewise be required togain a spot on the agenda if they wish to address the aldermen.

“This is not going to be a griping session,” Bowden said. “Theprogram isn’t designed to point fingers at any organization, butjust to teach the kids how Brookhaven works.”

Ward 4 Alderwoman Shirley Estes said she looks forward to theeducational benefit the program can provide, and hopes that a broadcross section of city and county students will apply for theprogram.

“The city as a whole can always gain when students are beingeducated,” she said. “I think we will certainly be willing to hearfrom the youth council on their perspective of what the needs arefor the city’s youth. We are always concerned about providingprograms that benefit our children.”