Our youth are an important asset of this community and a key element to the long-term growth and sustainability of Norfolk. I will work to see that they have ownership in the future development of Norfolk by encouraging partnership in our efforts to strengthen this city.

As a community, we have been successful in providing quality educational opportunities. We recently passed a school bond to improve the public school facilities and have built two parochial schools to give our families options. Since the opening of Norfolk Junior College in 1928, our community has been a leader in providing affordable higher education for the people of this region. Today Northeast Community College continues to grow and expand to meet the needs of our community, as we can see through the current capital campaign to build the College of Nursing Northern Division in Norfolk.

We need to continue to invest in community improvements that will give our children a reason to stay here or the opportunities to come back home. As mayor, I will:

• Allow youth a voice in city government and planning


• Explore the possibilities for including youth representation on city council.
• Develop a role for youth on Norfolk Planning Commission.
• Provide a way for youth to have a voice and share their ideas regarding economic development in Norfolk and the surrounding areas.
• Listen to the ideas of our youth through open forums or sharing sessions.


• Create opportunities for youth leadership development


• Establish an entrepreneurship class for middle school, junior high and high school students in conjunction with community and civic groups and local schools.
• Develop a youth leadership Norfolk program to engage youth in learning about their community and its leadership possibilities.
• Enhance relationship between the city and the Norfolk Youth Leadership Council.


• Strengthen community connections for youth


• Implement comprehensive citywide recreational improvement plan
• Form a youth work group to develop ideas for citywide improvements focused on youth.
• Develop a comprehensive youth resources directory listing all clubs, organizations, and groups for youth and focused on youth in the community./li>