The district's new youth commissioner, 15-year-old Emily Hopper—a Lincoln High School student—is hoping to expand the district's Youth Advisory Council onto the streets of the Rose Garden and Willow Glen.

Ideally, the council should consist of 10 to 15 youths between the ages of 12 to 21. The main goal of the council, Hopper said, is to advocate for District 6's young community and plan community-wide events.

Currently, however, the council has just three members—two from the Rose Garden neighborhood, and one student from Presentation High School.

"We don't have any members from Willow Glen, and we'd really like to get them—it'd be a real asset," said Hopper said, who took over the youth commissioner position in April 2004, after Willow Glen resident Polo Black Golde resigned.

San Jose's 11 youth commissioners serve as a liaison between their district and the city. Each commissioner is charged with forming a Youth Advisory Council, said Betty Montoya, the city's youth outreach specialist.

A strong youth advisory council keeps their district commissioner clued into the youth's needs, which the commissioner then takes to the city, Montoya said.

As a commissioner, Hopper has mingled with other district commissioners. That experience, she said, has convinced her that recruiting a youth advisory council from all District 6 neighborhoods could bring a renewed synergy to District 6 youth.

"It's really enjoyable to meet with people who go to different schools," Hopper said. "They have different ideas of what works well and different things that could be fun for the advisory council."

Hopper looks to the strong Youth Advisory Councils in Districts 3 and 5, and hopes to bring District 6 up the same level. Their strength lies in active youth and successful community events.

But District 6 has been a difficult recruiting ground. Many teenagers are already swamped with schoolwork and extracurricular activities, making it difficult for them to commit to anything else, Hopper said.

Along with being able to spare time for a monthly meeting and regular events, Hopper's looking for teenagers who have a positive outlook for their generation and who are interested in city government.

The council meets monthly at a predetermined space convenient to the members. Previously, the group has met at Hoover Middle School or Pizza My Heart in downtown Willow Glen.

The council can plan events such as community movie nights, community Thanksgiving dinners, city clean-ups and mural painting.

"She has wonderful, awesome ideas," Montoya said. "To make sure her ideas come forth, she needs to bring together the youth advisory council, and maybe her ideas can blossom into something greater."

For more information on the Youth Advisory Council, contact the city's Youth Commission staff at 408.277.2744, or Emily Hopper via email at emilyhopper6@yahoo.com.