The village of Skokie has launched its all-new Youth Commission to give local students a greater voice in community decisions.
Applications are open for the commission, which is seeking 16 high school students who either live in Skokie or attend a public or a private school in the village. Current eighth-grade students are also eligible to apply for the term beginning their freshman year and each selected member will serve a one-year academic term beginning Aug. 1, and can apply every year. The goal is to bring together a diverse group of students with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Mayor of Skokie, Ann Tennes, recently extended the application deadline from May 15 to May 22.
According to the village, the purpose of the Youth Commission is to elevate the voices of young people, foster civic engagement and strengthen connections between the youth, the Village government and the broader community.
Michael Charley, who helps oversee community engagement initiatives for the Village of Skokie, said the application process is designed to select students who are genuinely interested in local government and community involvement and that students should be thoughtful and authentic in their applications, especially since the program is competitive with only 16 available spots.
“The village is looking for students who care about Skokie, want to make their voices heard and are interested in learning more about local government,” Charley said. “Students do not need prior government experience. A strong application should explain why they are interested, what issues matter to them and how they would like to contribute to the community.”
For students at Niles West, this is intended to be a low-time commitment but high-impact opportunity. Commissioners will meet every other month, for a total of six meetings during the year. Meetings are scheduled for August, October, December, February, April and June, unless otherwise scheduled by the Commission Chair. Information about meetings and agendas is available now.
After students complete an application, Tennes will review applications as part of the recruitment and selection process. Youth commissioners will be appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees over the summer and the first term will begin August 1, 2026.
Charley also noted that the staff liaison for the Youth Commission is Annmarie Milazzo Benuzzi, the current Youth Outreach Coordinator, who will organize each meeting.
Students can apply for the youth commission here or on the Skokie website. Questions about the application can also be directed to Vicky Varga, the administrative assistant in the mayor’s office, at [email protected] or 847-673-0500.