Someday they may be running Salt Lake City, but for now members of the first youth city council are content to just give teens a voice in local government.

The eight teens, one from each of the city's seven council districts plus an at-large mayor, march into city history with an ambitious mission: open communication between youths and adults; community involvement for kids; and opportunities for youths to have leadership experiences."I think a lot of big issues in the youth community are (due to) violence. Being kids is hard. A lot of adults see us as bad people now," said Marcos Espinosa, who represents Council District No. 4. "A lot of us aren't, and a lot of us want to get involved. By doing this we can show we're good kids and responsible and what not."

The teens took the oath of office - the same oath their adult counterparts pledge to - during a brief ceremony Tuesday at a meeting of the Salt Lake City Council.

More than 80 Utah cities and towns have long had youth councils. But until Councilman Stuart Reid took office last year, there was apparently little interest in parenting the program in the state's largest city.

Reid persuaded the council to support creation of a youth council last June. Since then, a 13-member adult steering committee, led by community volunteer Colleen Min-son and State Rep. Pete Suazo, worked to set up the council and recruit youths.

That's right, recruit. Unlike their adult counterparts, many members of the first youth council were drafted into service. They'll serve until the end of the school year.

"This group of young men and women represents what is best in our community," Reid said, advising the youth council members that they have a "role and responsibility" that will be important in the city.

The council members and districts they represent are: Cynthia Ratliff, District 1; Jason Pack-ineau, District 2; Vince Guinta, District 3; Espinosa, District 4; Larissa Jester, District 5; Ginger Bosen, District 6; and Lisa Christensen, District 7. Frank Leonard was elected by the group to serve as the first youth mayor.

"It's not long before we vote, and we're hoping to learn more about our government and make our voices heard," Bosen said.

Until now, there haven't been many ways for youths to have a say in community affairs, said the new youth mayor. Leonard expects the council will come up with more creative solutions to problems the city faces, particularly those involving youths. "It's kind of exciting to be on the cutting edge of things," Leonard said.

One of the tasks they'll tackle immediately is to set up youth community councils throughout the city, shadowing the community councils that serve to keep adults involved in and informed about city happenings.

"We are so enthusiastic that we want to be out there," said Pack-ineau. "We want to give youth self-esteem, some pride and let them know they are a part of our community.

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"Hopefully the barrier between the old and the youth will disappear," he said.

But fun things first: The youth council's first order of business will be a peace rally and dance April 8 at the Gallivan Center from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The theme of the dance is "United Youth Jam: Stomp Out Violence."

Ratliff invited the council to come "jam out with us" to spread the word about the youth council and youths united against violence. Council member Roselyn Kirk said she'd come if Ratliff would explain what "jam out" means. To which Ratliff promised she'd give Kirk a firsthand demonstration at the dance.

See? Already both groups are learning something from each other.

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