You can’t vote until you’re 18, but until then, you still can contribute to making a difference in our community. Visions in Progress (VIP) is the City of Santa Clarita’s Youth Advisory Committee and was formed in 2002.  The VIP group contributes their ideas, opinions, and recommendations for solutions on many of the City activities, projects, issues, and decisions.  High-school aged youth have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills as well as learn how our local City government operates through weekly VIP meetings.  The program runs year round, and members meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month at City Hall from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Any high school-age student in our Valley can attend.  Currently, between 25 and 40 members attend every meeting.

Another Youth program the City offers is the Youth in Government Summer Internship Program.  This program teaches high school aged students about local government and how it works.  The three-week program consists of the participants having the opportunity to gain work experience through summer internships at City Hall, as well as participate in a workshop-style educational program, which incorporates guest speakers from various City departments and trips to various important City and County sites.  This year marks the 19th year of the Youth in Government Summer Internship Program.  It will run from June 16 through July 8, and applications are available beginning mid-March.  

 For more information, visit www.scyouthandfamily.com/vip