Teens encouraged to make a difference through City Youth Council
Published on April 30, 2026
Local teens who want to represent their peers and positively impact their community are invited to apply to join City of Port St. Lucie Youth Council.
Students entering grades 9-12 in the 2026-27 school year who live in Port St. Lucie are encouraged to apply for the Youth Council.
The application period opens May 1 and runs through June 5. Interested students can visit CityofPSL.com/YouthCouncil to complete the online application and submit letters of recommendation.
Established in 2023, the Youth Council empowers young residents to share their ideas and participate in shaping City decisions. Members also benefit from:
- Gaining insight into local government
- Earning community service hours
- Building leadership skills
- Improving public speaking and training skills
- Providing input and feedback to City leaders
Membership grew from just nine students in the inaugural Youth Council to 39 members for the 2025-26 school year.
This year, the Youth Council launched two committees, Naturally PSL and Youth Recreation, to offer feedback on major programs and events. The group received a $500 grant from the National Youth Leadership Council for a service-learning project, with four members leading an environmental sustainability effort in a City green space. On April 25, after conducting surveys and meeting with residents and volunteers, the group planted trees and organized a community clean-up. Members also received a $1,900 mini-grant through the Love Your Block program, powered by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, to add birdhouses, a bird bath and a bench to a green space in the Whispering Pines neighborhood. The installation is scheduled for late May. Additionally, the Youth Council hosted its first Outdoor Movie Night on Oct. 31 in conjunction with the City’s Fall Fun Fest, strengthening its community involvement.
Youth Council members participated in the Florida League of Cities Youth Summit in Deland and Tallahassee.
Members also volunteered at City events, including the International Festival, PSLinLights, Fall Fun Fest, Citizen Summit, FAM Fest, the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Juneteenth and various Love Your Block events. They helped collect surveys from teens and residents about current and future City projects.
The Youth Council also proposed an end-of-year celebration for high school students, hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department. For the third year in a row, the Big Summer Blowout is set for Tuesday, June 2, from 3-7 p.m. at Minsky Gym.