20260518_WSS_CHHS_MAYORS YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION_FINAL.PDF

Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission
Annual Updates & Recommendations
Work Study Session- May 18, 2026
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MYAC Chairs
 
 
 
        Tala Alshathry
Chairperson 
            Senior, McClintock High School
 
 
 
 
                     2 years served
 
 
                   
                                                       Kosomak Lim
Vice Chairperson    Senior, Corona del Sol High School
                                                                                          3 years served
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
                                                    Braden Castaneda
Project 
 
 
     Junior, McClintock High School
Management Chair                            
 
 
 
 
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2 years served

MYAC History
• Established in 1980 in response to complex youth challenges
• Currently a commission of up to 30 members from 9th-12th grade
• Students are given the opportunity to advocate for  Tempe’s youth by 
providing input to initiatives affecting youth and youth programming 
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Anticipated Impact
Enhanced Youth Well-being: 
Initiatives in mental health are likely to 
foster emotional resilience, reduce 
stigma, and improve access to 
support systems for young people.
Empowered and Informed Youth: Education-
focused efforts, such as promoting civic 
engagement and exploring pathways after high 
school, will enable youth to actively shape their 
future and contribute to their community.
Stronger and Safer Communities: 
Community safety and social justice 
recommendations can cultivate trust, equity, 
and collaboration within neighborhoods, 
reducing conflicts and enhancing overall 
safety.
Sustainable Futures: Sustainability 
efforts will encourage environmentally 
conscious behavior among youth and 
ensure long-term benefits for the 
community and the planet.
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MYAC 2025-2026 Updates
Participation
League of AZ Cities and Towns
Community Budget Survey
ASU Project Cities
Maricopa County Elections
Care Fair
Youth Engagement & Activities
Tempe Youth Talks
Young Women’s Summit
Unity Walk
Brunch with Berdetta: Youth Mental Health Resource Fair
Opioid Response Plan
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City Engagement
• Mayor’s Office
• City Manager’s Office
• Transportation & Sustainability Department
• Municipal Budget Office
• Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 
• Police Department
• Neighborhood Services
• Community Health & Human Services
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Youth Priority Topics
Mental Health
Community Safety
Civic Engagement & Social Justice
Sustainability and Environmental Justice
Subcommittees:
•
Planned the youth resource fair for Unity Walk 
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Created surveys and collected youth input (8th-12th grade)
•
Presented at Tempe Youth Talks
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Tempe Youth Talks
• Tempe Youth Talks provided an opportunity for youth to 
engage with city leaders and students in the community  
• MYAC commissioners gave
TEDx-style talks about their priority issues and 
moderated a panel of field matter experts
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Mental Health
Focus: Prioritizing accessible mental health resources and fostering 
peer support initiatives can empower youth to thrive emotionally and 
socially in our community.
City staff engagement: 
Maria Gonzalez
Sr. Social Services Coordinator
Care 7
Performance            
Measure 3.34
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“There appears to be a stigma where youths are made 
fun of or criticized for seeking mental health services 
instead of being supported. Education about youth 
mental health also appears to be lacking.”
Mental Health
46% of respondents said they feel 
there is a stigma around mental 
health down 41% from last year
79% agreed or strongly agreed that 
they have support and resources 
when dealing with mental health 
challenges Up 6% from last year
 
“I think mental health is hard to talk about for youth, 
and I think it is very important to create safe spaces 
to discuss and work through mental health issues.”
63 survey respondents
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When asked: What do you think is driving the decline in youth mental health? 
Respondents overwhelmingly point to social media and technology as the dominant 
perceived drivers of declining youth mental health

Recommendations
STRATEGIES
Mental Health
Develop a single, mobile-friendly mental health hub or 
website that includes all local services, crisis lines, and school 
resources with instructions on how to properly reach out and 
utilize them.
Youth mental health training for adults: develop workshops 
and digital toolkits for parents, teachers, and other caregivers. 
These resources could focus on feeling and thought validation, 
open communication, and acceptance
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Civic Engagement & Social Justice
Focus: Advancing youth leadership in civic life by promoting 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, elevating underrepresented voices, 
and addressing social justice issues that impact young people, while 
fostering a more inclusive and equitable community for all.
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Performance            
Measure 3.34
City staff engagement: 
Astyn Quander
Cultural Programs and Education 
Coordinator
Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

“What Diversity Equity and Inclusion means to 
me is being able to express your culture and 
religion freely and not being judged but instead 
being open, and what Inclusion means to me is 
when you can feel good to actually do your part 
and socializing without feeling closed, trapped, 
or being forced to.”
93% of respondents reported they 
experienced discrimination based on race, gender 
and disability 
School is the dominant environment for both 
witnessing and experiencing discrimination for the 
youth.
Overall feedback shows that youth want more 
student led DEI organizations and discussions 
along with active participation, not passive 
messaging on matters about DEI.
“The city of Tempe has created programs that 
create opportunities for people with disabilities, 
minorities, and people in the workforce.
42 survey respondents
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Civic Engagement & Social Justice

STRATEGIES
Providing youth with dedicated DEI education 
sessions that deepen their understanding of diversity, 
equity, and inclusion, paired with sensitivity training on 
respectful language and terminology to help prevent 
future DEI-related conflicts or violations.
Creating a youth-led safe space within a school or 
public building where students can openly discuss 
DEI-related issues alongside community members of 
all ages, fostering dialogue, understanding, and a 
more inclusive environment.
Civic Engagement & Social Justice
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Recommendations

Performance 
measures 1.05, 1.07
Community Safety
Focus: Elevating youth leadership in promoting community safety by 
advancing safe-driving awareness, reducing preventable risks, and 
addressing the social factors that impact young people’s well-being, 
while fostering a more equitable and supportive environment for all 
Tempe youth.
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City Support:
Police Department
Traffic Engineering

Community Safety and Social Justice
46% said the issue of unsafe 
driving affected their life
Survey responses showed youth 
want to build skills in: 
CPR, personal protection and 
emergency response
What makes you feel the most unsafe 
in your community? 
“Random acts of violence”
“The lack of safe and efficient ways to 
cross the street in my neighborhood.”
“The drivers and the threat of school 
shooters”
“Drunk drivers or people who are violent”
41 survey respondents
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Recommendations
STRATEGIES
Creating stronger traffic safety in Tempe by increasing targeted 
enforcement and ensuring all new infrastructure follows the 
Complete Streets Policy, promoting safer conditions for drivers, 
cyclists, and pedestrians across the community.
Implementing accessible driver’s education programs in all 
Tempe high schools to equip youth with essential safety skills, 
promote responsible driving habits, and reduce preventable risks in 
the community.
Community Safety
Strengthening school safety by supporting efforts to prevent gun 
violence and protect students, ensuring that learning environments 
remain secure, stable, and focused on student well-being.
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Sustainability and Environmental Justice
Focus: Promoting eco-friendly initiatives, addressing climate 
change, and advocating for equitable access to clean 
resources. The youth in this subcommittee work on projects 
that protect our environment and ensure a sustainable future 
for all.
Performance 
                           measures 4.18
City staff engagement: 
Evelyn Brumfield
Youth Climate Action Coordinator
Transportation & Sustainability 
Department
 
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Sustainability and Environmental Justice
The primary environmental concern for respondents was climate change
Top Resources respondents wish were available: 
More Laws, Protections, and Policy Enforcement
Better Public Transportation & Sustainable Infrastructure
More Education, Information, and Awareness
41 survey respondents
“It is very important to protect the world from climate change because at this rate, 
we won’t have a future to grow up in. The world is heating up rapidly, which is not 
sustainable for us and all living things. We need earth, and earth needs us.”
“Millions of people will die due to climate change from the increased air pollution 
and temperature, lack of water and food, and higher rate of natural disasters with 
increasing hazard. This is one of the most important issues for the future of out 
planet right now”
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Recommendations
STRATEGIES
Improve visibility of City of Tempe programs and 
opportunities 
Implement a composting program for Tempe in the 
coming years
Sustainability and Environmental Justice
Host city cleanups for the community to engage in
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Next Steps
• Recruitment for the next school year will emphasize 
engaging a diverse and inclusive group of students.
• Follow-up engagement with City Departments based off 
strategies 
• Incorporate a text messaging platform
• Promote annual report
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Thank you!
Questions?
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