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“We’re interested in their viewpoints,” said Community Relations Director Steve Guitar, who will oversee the consortium along with Parks and Recreation Director Sue Kebbe. Guitar said city officials want to know what some of the city’s challenges are from a youth’s point of view, along with receiving input from the teenagers since cities often hear from younger residents how there’s “nothing to do.”

Sterling Heights High School students Afroze Ahmed and Noelle Kerr approached the city with the idea for the consortium, which was reviewed and then endorsed by the Sterling Heights City Council at its strategic planning session Jan. 29.

“Both of us felt that there needs to be more of a voice, that we need our youth to be more active in the community,” Ahmed said. “And it’s a time that we know the youth is ready to interact.”

Applications are being taken for the 12-member youth consortium, which will consist of two students from each of the city’s three high schools and six young adults who may or may not be college students - including home-schooled students.

“We want to make Sterling Heights a more community-involved place to live and help younger generations to become more a part of what happens,” Ahmed said.

Those interested in becoming a member of the group must be a Sterling Heights resident, and high school students must have at least a 2.5 grade-point average, a good attendance record and a recommendation from their school counselor.

Appointments to the consortium are for a 2-year period, and members will be required to attend specific monthly board and commission meetings, as well as quarterly consortium meetings. Input from the consortium will be welcomed at meetings for the Beautification Commission, Cultural Commission, Parks and Recreation Committee, Ethnic Community Committee, library board and City Council.

“We can get a fresh look at things by involving the youth of our community,” Sterling Heights Mayor Richard Notte said. “It will give us a different perspective on how we do business.”

Guitar said the city had a youth consortium about 20 years ago, but the group fell apart because of a lack of participation. However, he said some of the requirements have changed to take into consideration the busy schedules of the teenagers who wish to be involved in the consortium. For instance, because the consortium is more of an administrative group, the City Council will not have to approve appointments. This will make it easier to replace members if needed, Guitar said.

“This youth consortium has the opportunity to become an important asset of Sterling Heights,” Kerr said. “The youth will be able to become active in the community and political processes that will one day establish a city where age has no bounds.”

At Sterling Heights High School, Ahmed and Kerr have already been spreading the word about the youth consortium. “I know from my school there are people interested,” Ahmed said, “which is good, because in our school there are a lot of great leaders.”