LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — In an effort to get young adults more engaged in local government, the City of Lima’s administration took its weekly staff meeting on the road to the Apollo Career Center.
Students enrolled in government classes at Apollo had the opportunity to observe the city’s leadership in action as the regular staff meeting was held at their school. The initiative aimed to give students a firsthand look at how local government operates and to help bridge the gap between civic education and real-world participation.
Students enrolled in government classes at Apollo had the opportunity to observe the city’s leadership in action as the regular staff meeting was held at their school.
An Apollo student, Alejandro Reyes, was selected as the student ambassador for the day. Reyes gave a presentation on the current projects within his program, including updates on building renovations and work being completed at the Children’s Garden.
“I was pretty surprised, because I didn't know beforehand that I was going to be picked for ambassador,” Reyes said. “I kind of just told them what we're doing — catching them up about, you know, what building renovation is doing currently, and what we're finishing on, which is at the Children's Garden.”
Apollo instructors emphasized that local government is often the least discussed level of governance, even though it's the most relevant to students' daily lives. They hope that by bringing city officials directly to the school, students will begin to understand the importance of local civic engagement.
“When I'm trying to do notes or a station activity, it's very much a disconnect for them,” said Michelle Gibbs, a social studies teacher at Apollo. “But when you actually apply it to their day-to-day life, it's almost like a click goes off — a light bulb goes off in their head. They realize why this is important to know, not only now, but also in any future endeavors they might do.”
Shane Coleman, Lima’s chief of staff, echoed that sentiment.
“It’s a chance for us to get out of the building, come out and meet students,” Coleman said. “One of the challenges is figuring out how to get students more involved in local government. So we're hoping to glean some information from them today as well.”
Reyes gave a presentation on the current projects within his program, including updates on building renovations and work being completed at the Children’s Garden.
Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith also engaged with the students, asking them why they don’t take more opportunities to participate in civic activities. One common answer: they simply don’t know about them.
In response, the city plans to explore new strategies to better connect with youth in Lima and surrounding areas, with the goal of fostering a more informed and engaged next generation of citizens.
