GENESEO, N.Y., April 30, 2025 — The Livingston County Youth Bureau is seeking a new Livingston County representative to sit on the New York State Governor’s Youth Council.
Founded in 2019, the NYS Governor’s Youth Council is intended to engage youth in state government. It brings together 62 young leaders between the ages of 13 and 21 from each county across the state to address key issues affecting NYS youth. Council members work to facilitate two-way communication with policy-makers to better address youth and community issues in their regions.
Mary Guldenschuh is the deputy director for the Livingston County Youth Bureau, which is responsible for the recruitment and selection of Livingston County candidates. She said holding a position on the Council is an excellent opportunity to build leadership skills and potentially shape future policies.
“Empowering young people to engage with government and their communities is so important for shaping responsible, caring, and civically-minded future leaders,” she said. “Giving them a voice through initiatives like the Governor’s Youth Council is a dual investment in their development and our own communities. This aligns with our vision to support youth in becoming healthy, productive, responsible, and caring members of society.”
The state and County will work to have balanced representation on the Youth Council based on age, gender, ethnicity and other factors that make up the diversity of New York’s youth. The application will be submitted to a County selection committee comprised of individuals that represent, support or provide youth services. Each county will look to advance the top three candidates to the state selection committee for review.
Applications will be judged based on two weighted categories - a candidate essay and the overall quality of the application. Candidates must write a short essay consisting of no more than 500 words that supports questions within the application.
Learn more about the Council’s advocacy efforts, objectives and more by visiting the New York State Governor’s Youth Councils website. To submit an application, interested candidates must apply online here. Applications are due by May 19, 2025.
The Livingston County Youth Bureau is dedicated to promoting the well-being of County youth. It focuses on supporting youth development, enhancing family relationships, and fostering community involvement. The bureau offers a range of initiatives aimed at youth engagement, leadership development, and educational opportunities. The Youth Bureau also administers state and federal funding to support local youth services and programs. For more, visit the Livingston County Youth Bureau website or call 585-243-6909.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news, events and more by following Livingston County on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.