If you’ve walked through City Hall recently, you may have noticed a colorful poster taped up just outside Council Chambers. It’s not a new art installation. It’s the handiwork of some bright young minds from Mountain Middle School, who recently spent a day with us learning about civic engagement. And let me tell you, if these students are any indication, the future of local government is in very good hands.
One of the most rewarding parts of serving as your mayor is seeing how our city connects with students of all ages to help them understand and shape the world around them. Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a front-row seat to some truly inspiring moments that show just how seriously our youngest residents view their role in our community.
Take the third graders from Park Elementary, for example. They recently held their annual “Mock Council” session right here in Council Chambers, where students served as councilors and staff members, and faced a big decision: Should funding go to the police department or the library? (Spoiler alert: The police department won again this year, though I think the library is due for a comeback.) Watching these students debate, deliberate and ultimately vote was a reminder that democracy starts early, and it starts local.
Then there were the Montessori students who met with me to deliver handwritten letters requesting new playground equipment at the Mason Center. They didn’t just mail them in; they showed up, made their case and reminded us all how powerful a well-written letter (and a little courage) can be.
And just last week, students from Fort Lewis College stood before the Council and asked us to consider the rights of the Animas River through a formal resolution. Their passion for environmental stewardship and thoughtful advocacy was nothing short of inspiring.
These moments aren’t just feel-good stories. They’re proof that our partnerships with local schools are working. We’re not just teaching students about government; we’re inviting them into it. We’re showing them that their voices matter, that their ideas count and that they don’t have to wait until they’re older to make a difference.
So the next time you’re in City Hall, take a moment to look around. You might see a poster, a group of students on a tour or even a mock council in session. What you’re really seeing is the next generation of public servants in the making. That poster I mentioned is a thank-you note and a call to action all in one.
And I, for one, can’t wait to see what they do next.
Mayor Gilda Yazzie is a longtime resident of Durango and a Fort Lewis College graduate with a degree in business administration. Durango’s first Navajo (Diné) councilor and mayor, she has worked with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal, state and tribal agencies. She has also lived in Washington, D.C., where she worked on Capitol Hill on issues related to women’s rights and racial equality.
