The Valdosta Youth Council honored Valdosta Mayor John Gayle with the John Gayle Leadership Award at the December 5 City Council Meeting.

Through the leadership and inspiration of Mayor John Gayle, his vision for a Youth Council came to fruition on September 24, 2015 when the Valdosta City Council passed a Resolution to establish the first Valdosta Youth Council.  It was Mayor Gayle’s desire to help young people build leadership skills, learn about civic responsibility, gain a better understanding of municipal government, and prepare them for a lifetime of public and community service.

Now in its fifth year, the Valdosta Youth Council has its largest class of 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th graders from 11 different schools in Valdosta and Lowndes County. 

“This year, the John Gayle Leadership Award was presented to Mayor John Gayle for his leadership, his commitment, his dedication, and his passion to serve the citizens of our community and make Valdosta a better place to live, work, and play,” said Emily Dinkins, VYC President.

The John Gayle Leadership Award will be presented each year to the Valdosta Youth Council Member who exhibits the qualities of leadership, makes a positive difference, inspires others, and in actively involved in community service. The Youth Council requested that Gayle come back every year to present the Award to one of VYC Members who exhibits those qualities.

VYC also presented Mayor Gayle with a piece of framed art. This year, the initiative of the Valdosta Youth Council is to focus on The Arts.  On November 21, 2019, they held their Regular VYC Meeting at the Turner Center for the Arts where the group was given a tour of the galleries and then participated in an art project at the new Arts Park.  Each VYC member was asked to draw something that they liked about or that represents our community on small pieces of paper.