Mayor Nan Whaley has been appointed vice chair of the National League of Cities' (NLC) Council on Youth, Education and Families (YEF Council) for 2016. The Council guides and oversees the work of NLC's Institute for Youth, Education and Families (YEF Institute).
NLC President Melodee Colbert-Kean, councilmember and former mayor of Joplin, Missouri, made the appointment of Mayor Whaley in December 2015. Anita James Price, councilmember of Roanoke, Virginia, also received an appointment as vice chair of the YEF Council.
"The YEF Council provides an important voice for the nation's cities and towns, generating recommendations for municipal leaders on strategies to improve outcomes for children, youth and families while guiding the work of NLC's Institute for Youth, Education and Families," said Clarence Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities.
As vice chair of the YEF Council, Mayor Whaley will play a key role in informing NLC's policy positions and advocating on behalf of America's cities and towns before Congress, with the Obama Administration and at home. Issues covered by the council include early childhood success, education and expanded learning, health and community wellness, reengagement of disconnected youth and family economic success.
The membership of the YEF Council is composed of not only local elected officials but also youth members and representatives from national organizations working to improve the welfare of children and families.
NLC's Institute for Youth, Education and Families launched in 2000 under the leadership of the late Thomas M. Menino, mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. The YEF Institute has become the "go-to" place for local officials seeking to improve outcomes for children and families in their communities.
For more information on the National League of Cities, its mission and initiatives, visit www.nlc.org.
