From left, Kiara Booker, Westfield Academy and Central School junior; Sara Schrader, WACS senior; and Jimmy Wolfe, WACS junior, join the new Westfield Village Board Youth Council. P-J photo by Amanda Dedie

WESTFIELD — Teens are taking steps to become immersed in Westfield’s local government.

At a recent Westfield Village Board meeting, three students from Westfield Academy and Central School joined forces to become part of Westfield village’s first “Youth Council,” a committee that will give the input of a younger generation to the village and hopefully make an impact on some of its decisions.

“We make decisions for the youth of Westfield,” said Westfield Mayor Michael VandeVelde. “But we really have no input from the youth, and so we’re hoping we can have a council that will have some say.”

The Youth Council will have its own listing on the monthly meeting agendas, and work closely with Andrew Webster, recreation department director, to help with their ideas and implement fun things for the youth in the village, as well as give its input to the board on other items that may affect its demographic. The members of the Youth Council will also get points toward their government class.

“We’re hoping it’s going to take off and they’re going to do most of the work themselves,” VandeVelde said.

The members include Kiara Booker, WACS junior; Jimmy Wolfe, WACS junior; and Sara Schrader, WACS senior.