The Youth Advisory Council consists of students from the DeSoto Independent School District and students that reside within the city limits of DeSoto. Students in grades nine through twelve are eligible to participate in a leadership role within the Youth Advisory Council.

What exactly does the Youth Advisory Council do?
The purpose of the Youth Advisory Council is to be an advisory board to the Parks and Leisure Services Department and the DeSoto City Council. More specifically, the youth council has three defined roles:

• To promote interest and receive input from the youth in the community to develop, promote, and sustain programs and activities for the youth
• To study, investigate and research what other communities are doing to have the youth become an integral part in the development of the community
• To promote the inclusive involvement of Youth Advisory Council to other communities

Youth Civic Academy
In order to increase understanding of what the city’s functions and responsibilities are, each YAC member is required to complete the Youth Civic Academy. At the Youth Civic Academy, each city department presents an overview of who they are, what their function is, and the services they offer within our community. The Youth Civic Academy is a total of nine mandatory sessions.

Events:
Powder Puff Football Game
The Youth Advisory Council hosts the Powder Puff Football Game each year. Admission is usually $5 and all DeSoto Independent School District students and parents are encouraged to attend. The funds raised from this event are used to help fund other events and to help fund our youth councils’ annual attendance at the State of Texas Youth Advisory Council each year. Powder Puff football is a gender role reversal game. The senior ladies play the junior ladies in a flag football game while the senior men compete against the junior men in a cheerleading competition. Youth Advisory Council members market the game, develop strategies for selling tickets and collecting funds, video and photograph the event, and build the display boards used to help market and to display our events at the State Youth Advisory Council gathering. They also emcee the event, schedule officials, and coordinate the creation of a highlight video for participants to recapture the event.

Valentines Day Dance
The youth advisory council directly organizes the Valentines Day Dance for DeSoto students in grades nine through twelve. Admission is $5. The council is responsible for the marketing of this event, hiring a deejay and a photographer for couples photos, ordering snacks, taking all other pictures, and developing a system to monitor who comes in and out.

Hip Hop Summit
The major event that the Youth Advisory Council is directly responsible for is the “Hip Hop Summit.” This event is usually held the third Saturday in June and admission is $10. The major purpose of this event is to help aspiring musical artists aged 13 - 18 become aware of the paths that need to be followed to make it to the big-time, along with identifying other potential career paths affiliated with the entertainment business. These young aspiring artists then take the stage to display their talents. They also get the chance to meet and work with some nationally known artists that have the experience to help these young people understand the work it takes to enter this business. The Youth Advisory Council plays numerous key roles in the administration of this event. Local rappers, singers, dancers, mimes, and step teams are strongly encouraged to audition to be a part of this event. If you would like to perform or attend, please email Mr. Chris Glover or call 972.230.9668.

The Youth Advisory Council also plays a supporting role in the following events: 

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration
• Stamp Unveiling
• Daddy Daughter Dance
• Easter Egg Hunt
• Senior Day at the Pool
• Employee Picnic
• Senior Center Annual Garage Sale

How do I get on the council?
At the beginning of each school year, current members of the youth advisory council set up tables during lunch at the freshman campus and at the high school. After new applications are filled out and returned, the Parks and Leisure Services staff representative, along with the executive board for the youth advisory council, review and set up times to interview potential candidates. Potential candidates are then invited to attend the Youth Civic Academy. At the conclusion of nine mandatory sessions, members are chosen by the DeSoto Parks and Leisure Service Department.

If you are interested in participating in the Youth Advisory Council, contact Mr. Chris Glover from the Parks and Leisure Services Department at 972.230.9668.