Rodgers will attend Youth Voice

For the first time since its inception, a Martin County Boys and Girls Club member will be attending the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Youth Voice 2024.

South Creek Middle School student and Robersonville Boys and Girls Club member Nieenma Rodgers will be participating in the 117th Annual NCACC Conference on Aug. 8-10 in Forsyth County.

Commissioners Emily Biggs, Ronnie Smith and Chair Dempsey Bond will be attending the conference and will have the opportunity to set an example for Rodgers and mentor her along the way.

Upon her inauguration as NCACC president, former Cleveland County Commissioner Mary Accor expressed the need for the next generation of leaders to be part of a youth leadership development initiative. Youth Voice was born.

The NCACC Board of Directors followed Accor’s lead and this year marks the 13 iteration of the program at the conference.

The purpose of YouthVoice is to provide county commissioners the opportunity to connect with the next generation of leaders. The event brings together Youth Delegates from 4-H Youth Development clubs and Boys and Girls Clubs of North Carolina.

Youth Voice, will be held on Friday and Saturday and offers sessions that help youth grasp a better understanding of what county governments do and the role commissioners play as the governing body for counties.

The event provides multiple opportunities for youth attendees and Martin County Commissioners to connect. Rogers and the commissioners will formally come together for Saturday’s lunch and a plenary session for all attendees.

County officials are encouraged to participate in other educational components of Youth Voice.

Commissioners Biggs, Smith, Bond, Skip Gurganus and Joe Ayers met with Rogers during the July commissioners meeting after Rogers addressed the commissioners explaining her Youth Voice plans.

In order to complete the Youth Voice 2024 application process, Rogers also had to have a picture taken with the commissioners.

The Association strives to bring a diverse mix of youth representatives ages 14-19 from each of North Carolina’s 100 counties to YouthVoice.

The NCACC has partnered with 4-H Youth Development, a service of N.C. Cooperative Extension, to coordinate and bring Youth Delegates to YouthVoice since its inception. The Association welcomed Boys and Girls Clubs of North Carolina as a partner organization in 2012 to bring additional representatives to YouthVoice.

Rogers is looking forward to the event and thanked the commissioners for taking the time to listen to her presentation.

Rogers is looking forward to the event and the educational opportunity it offers.

During the County Commissioner’s meeting Rogers expressed the needs of the Robersonville Boys and Girls Club and explained a new building would be appreciated.