The county is launching Model Manatee, a new experiential civics education program designed to give local high school students an inside look at how county government serves the community.
The inaugural program will begin with orientation on Sept. 14 and include six core learning sessions, with graduation on Dec. 17. Participants will observe meetings of the Manatee Board of County Commissioners and School Board of Manatee County, hear directly from county commissioners, school board members, constitutional officers and county leadership, and learn how local policies, services and decisions move from ideas to action.
Students will explore the roles and responsibilities of county government, the public meeting and decision-making process, and the many ways residents can become involved in their community. They will also assume the roles of elected constitutional officers before planning and conducting their own mock Board of County Commissioners meeting on Nov. 30, where they will apply what they learned to realistic local government issues.
“Model Manatee gives students an opportunity to see firsthand how the decisions made at the local level directly affect their families, their neighborhoods and their futures,” Manatee County District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard said. “We want our young people to understand that local government belongs to them, too. By giving them a seat at the table and an opportunity to experience the process for themselves, we hope to inspire the next generation of informed and engaged community leaders.”
The program is open to students who have completed 10th grade, live in Manatee County and are enrolled full time in a public, charter, private or home education program. Applicants must submit a complete application and meet the program’s attendance requirements. Students younger than 18 must also provide consent from a parent or guardian.
“This program goes beyond learning about local government in a classroom,” Government Relations Director Stephanie Garrison said. “Students will meet the people doing the work, see how different areas of government work together and learn how they can play an active role in their community.”