Racine County Announces Nomination Period for Youth in Governance Program

RACINE, Wis. (WRJN) – Racine County kids with an interest in government have an opportunity. Nominations are now being accepted for the Racine County 2025-2026 Youth in Governance program. That’s an effort offering high school students a chance to engage in local government and develop leadership skills.

The program allows participants to serve on one of five county board committees for a full year, gaining hands-on experience in governance.”Youth in Governance is about inspiring the next generation of leaders across Racine County,” said the late County Executive Jonathan Delagrave, a strong supporter of the program.

To be eligible, students must be Racine County residents, high school freshmen, sophomores or juniors with a minimum 2.5 GPA. They must also commit to attending monthly meetings and participate in orientation and county department tours.

Bev Baker, retired UW-Madison Extension Area Director, highlighted the program’s impact: “Research shows that when youth are involved in decision-making processes, they become invaluable resources to their communities.”

The initiative, which began in 2013, is facilitated in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension-Racine County.

Nominations are open until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, 2024. Interested individuals can nominate students online or download a form from the county’s website.