Nevada County’s Youth Commission asked the Board of Supervisors Tuesday to offer free bus passes to high school students, increase student internships and expand youth water safety programs. The Board will work on how to implement the recommendations at a later date.
The commissioners said young people need bus passes because many students lack transportation to recreational opportunities. They recommended Nevada County increase its number of student internships from five to 10 to foster greater civic engagement. They added that the Board should declare a Water Safety Week, provide youth water safety classes and provide safety communications in Spanish.
Mackenzie Rist, the outgoing chair of the Youth Commission, said she enjoyed her service.
“My experience has been very beneficial in terms of not only working and expanding my peers’ abilities and expanding mine and learning how to work with the community on a larger scale,” said Rist, who is graduating from Nevada Union High School this month and hopes to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. “Maybe I’ll be a supervisor one day.”
Supervisors said they were inspired by the students. “It blooms hope,” said Supervisor Sue Hoek. “It makes us want to do better.”
Supervisor Lisa Swarthout praised the students for their commitment to service. “Your commitment to being here today and going through this process shows me that you will be the future decision makers because you show up,” she said.
Tuesday’s recommendations were the first recommendations presented by the Youth Commission since it began in December 2023. The commission is made up of youth ages 14-19 who live in or attend school in Nevada County.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors also acknowledged outgoing Youth Commission members and welcomed returning and new members, who will begin their term July 1.
Outgoing Youth Commission members are: Frank Post (two terms), Tova Rothert, Ari Funk (two terms and founder), Mario LaMarca (two terms), Emma Crawford, Jaylen Hale, Arianna Drageset (two terms), Ahna Taliaferro-Watson (two terms and founder), Walter Helvin (two terms), Mackenzie Rist (two-term Chair and founder), Harris Nelson (two terms), Ninel Hernandez (two terms) and Sophia Martin.
Returning Youth Commission members are: Grant Lacosse, Graham Gardemeyer, Maura Griffin, Estefania Gaitan Meza and Randy Garcia. New members are Danielle Manifor, Lillian Boey, Baelen Carson, Hunter Martin, Audrey Hayes, Ella Lee, Ellenor Piland, Jacklynn Anderson, Luca Ricciardi, Nicole Drummond, Rylee Rist, Rachelle Zarate and Iratze Aguilar Solorio.
To learn more, visit www.NevadaCountyCa.gov/YouthCommission.