Youth Commission

Mission
City of Edmonds Youth Commission is a youth-led commission whose mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance the quality of life for Edmonds youth by advising City Council and the public on issues relating to youth policies, programs, and opportunities.

Terms
Members shall be appointed to a term of two (2) years beginning October 1st and ending September 30th. Graduating seniors will be appreciated as they leave the commission in June, and new appointments will be made for those vacant positions the following October. Application and reference forms will be available at the start of September.

Eligibility
To be eligible to serve on the commission you need to live within the City of Edmonds city limits. Candidates must be entering grades 9 through 12 or be of equivalent age if not enrolled in a traditional school program.

 

Get to know the 2023-2024 Edmonds Youth Commissioners
Seat 1: Lucy Calabro
Lucy is a junior at Edmonds-Woodway High School, where she is involved in the music department and participates in club leadership as the president of Speech and Debate Club and co-president of Lessons for All club. In her free time, Lucy loves going to the beautiful beaches of Edmonds with her friends and crocheting/knitting. She values education and accessibility for all people and would like to work on inclusivity in the Edmonds community.

Seat 2: Eemaan Bhatia (she/her/hers)
Eemaan Bhatia is a senior at Edmonds Woodway High School. She has participated in a variety of extracurricular activities at EWHS, including ASB, National Honor Society, Rainbow Warriors Club, Asian Pacific Student Union, and Girls Who Code. She is a member of Northwest Girlchoir and plays the flute in her school's Wind Ensemble. Eemaan is passionate about promoting diversity and change in the Edmonds community and cannot wait for this school year!

Seat 3: Vivian Liao
Vivian is a junior at King's High School. She is the co-founder of Community Outreach club and also secretary at International Club there. She loves to run, read and bullet journal in her free time. Vivian is also very passionate about speaking out on mental health and injustice.

 

Seat 4: Joelle Walworth (she/her/hers)
Joelle is a junior at King's High School where she enjoys leading the Tea Club and connecting with other students. Joelle joined the Youth Commission to spark positive change for teens and Edmonds as a whole.

 

Seat 5: Cassidy Otis

Cassidy, a senior at Edmonds Woodway High School. She actively engages in various extracurricular activities, with one of her favorites being Key Club. She is passionate about wildlife, she strives for improvement through the youth commission.

 

Seat 6: Mariana Yenter (she/her/hers)
Mariana is a senior at Edmonds Woodway high school. She partakes in various extracurricular activities that improve the community, including the Edmonds Stream Team. Mariana joined Youth Commission to advocate for change and positively impact the Edmonds community.  

Seat 7: Sophie Gerdes
Sophie is a senior at Edmonds-Woodway high school. She is a member of the schools’ dance team, and several organizations within her school such as the National Honors Society and the community college's MESA program. She also tutors students in biology at her school. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her friends and draw.
 
Seat 8: Lucy Lakefish
Lucy is a junior at Edmonds Woodway High School. She cares about her community and wants it to thrive at its best potential. Lucy is enthusiastic about being on the Youth Commission and contributing new ideas. Out of school, Lucy enjoys walking her dog around the neighborhood and taking her boat out in the sound.  

Seat 9: Joanna Na
Joanna is a junior at Edmonds Woodway High School. She is a full IB student and partakes in various extracurricular activities, including the Dance team, NHS, Chinese club, and volunteering at the Swedish Hospital. In her free time, she likes to watch baseball. She joined the Youth Commission because she believes that small changes youth make can make a significant and positive difference in Edmonds.

Seat 10 (alternate): Charlie Morgan

Charlie is a junior at Edmonds Woodway High School. Outside of school he enjoys being secretary and competing member of his schools speech and debate team. Charlie values inclusivity and acceptance and wants to spread kindness to the community of Edmonds.

Seat 11 (alternate): Lydia Abuni

Lydia is a junior at Edmonds Woodway High School. She is a full IB student but also partakes in several extracurricular activities such as DECA, National Honor Society, and Key Club at her school and volunteers regularly. Lydia looks forward to making positive change through the Youth Commission and is especially passionate about inclusivity and diversity. 

Youth Commission Info

City of Edmond Logo

Contact Information:
Casey Colley (she/her/hers)
Youth Commission Coordinator
Telephone: (425) 563-9423
E-mail: [email protected]

Shannon Burley (she/her/hers)
Deputy Parks Director
Telephone: (425) 771-0232
E-mail: [email protected]

700 Main Street
Edmonds WA 98020

Meeting Information:
The commission meets September through June from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.

Special meetings and retreats may be held during July and August as needed, as determined by the youth commissioners.
(Meetings are subject to change.)

Commission Members:
Seat 1: Lucy Calabro
Seat 2: Eemaan Bhatia 
Seat 3: Vivian Liao
Seat 4: Joelle Walworth
Seat 5: Cassidy Otis
Seat 6: Mariana Yenter
Seat 7: Sophie Gerdes
Seat 8: Lucy Lakefish
Seat 9: Joanna Na
Seat 10 (alternate): Charlie Morgan
Seat 11 (alternate): Lydia Abuni

City Council Liaison: Council Member Michelle Dotsch