Thomas Stone High School senior Emmanuel Bakare was appointed to serve on Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Maryland Youth Advisory Council for the 2010-11 school year. (Submitted photo)
Bakare will represent Charles County Public Schools and, along with 24 other high school students, Maryland’s youth population. Students who serve on the council provide feedback and recommendations regarding public policies and programs and to take a leadership role in creating change.
The Maryland Youth Advisory Council informs the governor and General Assembly on issues including education, safe-learning environments, employment opportunities, strategies to increase youth participation in local and state government, health care access and quality and substance abuse. Students selected to serve on the Council also have the opportunity to collaborate on and recommend one legislative proposal during the legislative session, and create a Council public awareness campaign.
The Council meets four times a year and conducts one to two public hearings each year on issues of importance to youth. Student members also provide an annual report to the governor and General Assembly.
Bakare is an executive board member of the Student Government Association (SGA), an officer for the W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society and editor of the school newspaper. He is an active member of It’s Academic, Mock Trial and the Environmental Engineering Club. He also serves on the executive boards of the Charles County Association of Student Councils (CCASC) and the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC).
Source: Charles County Public Schools