On Aug. 27, 15 new council members took the oath of office for the West Jordan Youth Council at city hall for the 2024 to 2025 term. 

Participants swore to “support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Utah and the laws and ordinances of the City of West Jordan” and to “discharge the duties of [their] office with fidelity.”

All council members—both previous and new—are West Jordan residents, in grades nine through 12 and went through an application process before joining the council.

West Jordan rolled out the Youth Council program in 2023 which other nearby cities have modeled, following a year or two of paper and prep work, Councilmember Kelvin Green said. The budget for the council is minimal and allocated from the city budget.

At the end of the term in May 2025, members will report to the West Jordan City Council.

Green, Councilmember Bob Bedore and city policy analyst, Warren Hallmark are advisors for the program.

"The mission of the WJYC is to ignite civic engagement among our city’s youth, provide them with an understanding of municipal government, and help prepare them to make a positive impact on their community,” Hallmark told the City Journal. 

West Jordan Youth Council for the 2024 to 2025 term as of the swearing-in are: Josephine Zumbrunnen, Keaton Peery, Lucy Lundberg, Charlotte Lundberg, Brooklyn Cannon, Taylor Patton, McKinley Merrihew, Madelyn Brunner, Mia Muñoz, Ariana Hernandez, Nathan Allen, Julia Tipton, Claire Lundberg, Ariel Ayala, and Adilene Ayala. 

West Jordan City Council members, Mayor Dirk Burton, youth advisors and city staff gather in West Jordan City Hall following the Youth Council’s swearing-in ceremony. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)

The members come from mostly Copper Hills High School but also includes students from West Jordan High School, West Hills Middle School, American Preparatory Academy, Sunset Ridge Middle School and the Utah Military Academy. 

A myriad of skills and experiences can be found among the bunch, ranging from student body officers, gamers, athletes, volunteers, and DECA members, all wanting to make a difference in their city by building community and creating a place for all youth in West Jordan. 

“Our goal is not only to get people involved but to help people—we just want to be a better world,” Taylor, from Copper Hills High School said. “As a youth council, we're just trying to have diversity and commitment to our city.”

Some, like Josephine, also said they’re interested in learning more about how city government and its different entities function.

“I feel like it’s a very valuable thing to know how a city is run and… know the people that are running your city,” said Josephine, from West Jordan High School serving her second term on the WJYC. “I don't necessarily want to get into politics but I just think it's very important to learn about it and understand it.” 

“We look forward to boosting awareness of the program's existence and promoting youth involvement at the municipal level,” Hallmark said.

Hallmark said this year’s group grew from the previous year’s nine members.

“It's worth noting that the program is maxed at 20,” Hallmark said. “So if there is further interest in joining throughout the school year, we'd welcome that until we hit capacity.” 

Any youth interested can apply at www.westjordan.utah.gov/youth-council/.