KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Councilman Jermaine Reed was named Missouri State Director for the Young Elected Officials Network, which helps to recruit young elected leaders across the state and provides them with resources and opportunities. Reed, 28, was elected to City Council during 2011.
Acting as a conduit for the YEO’s Missouri network, Reed will work with members to plan regional networking opportunities, connect young leaders to policy and skills resources provided by the Network and their strategic partners, and conduct outreach to elected officials between the ages of 18 and 35 who are interested in becoming members.
“The challenges ahead of us are simply too vast and complex for a single public official or term. We must constantly prepare the next generation of leaders to craft and communicate meaningful policy objectives,” Reed said. “As the state director, I will identify best practices from around the country and help implement and leverage those resources for the benefit of our communities.”
The YEO, a program of People For the American Way Foundation, consists of over 650 young, progressive city, county, state and federal officials younger than 35 from all 50 states. Members of the Network are provided networking opportunities, idea-sharing space and policy support, and leadership building. At the Network’s annual convening in 2013, for example, elected officials will discuss innovative policy solutions for issues including economic development, education, environmental policy, tax reform, equality, healthcare and more.
“Young elected officials are creating lasting change in their communities and around the country,” Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee City Commissioner and Executive Director of the YEO Network, said. “Our YEO State Directors understand it is crucial for us to accelerate the speed of progress. They are leaders amongst their peers and are eager to champion new strategies and solutions to the many challenges we are facing at home and across America.”
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