SWYCC present 2015 final report

For the past five months, a select group of students in Wicomico County in grades eight through twelve, worked tirelessly to create proposals on ways to better their community.

The students are a part of the Salisbury Wicomico Youth Civics Council. The students were given a unique opportunity to pitch ideas to both city and county officials.  

Thelonious Williams, the SWYCC program coordinator says, “It’s very inspiring trying to see, or not trying but actually seeing what these kids, some in eighth grade for that matter are coming up with.”     

Students got the chance to present their 2015 final report at Salisbury University on Tuesday. Officials say they were impressed; so much so some suggestions are already underway.     

Jake Day, the Salisbury City Council President says, “A county wide high school spelling bee is being executed this Saturday. That was an idea from this program and it’s being implemented already. Another idea is the trailer for the Wicomico Humane Society so they can do a mobile adoption trailer. That is a $40,000 project already being endorsed by the humane society.”     

However, some ideas require a little more work, like eleventh grader Monroe Parker’s. He’s proposing after school transportation for all high schools in Wicomico County.  

Parker, who attends Mardela High School says, “It will definitely encourage more participation in sports and extra-curricular activities.”

Parker realizes this would be a pretty expensive task.  His suggestion to combat this issue is a partnership with Shore Transit. He’s already reached out to their officials and learned that many of their bus routes correspond with local schools.         

Parker continues, “For students who have free and reduced lunch, we would hand out to them student vouchers.”        

Those vouchers would allow them to ride the bus after school. Council president Jake Day does admit an idea like this is harder to achieve, but that’s not to discourage it. They’re encouraging fresh ideas. We’re told the goal of this program is you never know what’s possible until you try. Parker is hoping his “try” could one day become a reality.        

Parker goes on, “I would love to come back and see just an idea sprout into success.”

This is the Salisbury-Wicomico Youth Civics Council’s second year. Their program director tells us with the success they’ve seen so far in these students, they hope to see the program continue to grow.