Rushabh (Rush) Patel, a Macon-Bibb County Youth Commissioner and sophomore at Stratford Academy, has been selected to be a board member of the prestigious National League of Cities (NLC) Council on Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Council).
Mr. Patel was one of five youth members selected from a national application and interview process to be a part of this 30-person Council which is made up of youth leaders, elected officials, and representatives from major national organizations concerned about children and families. As part of the YEF Council, he will have full membership on the Council and help guide and oversee all of the YEF Institutes’ work, not just those relating to the youth.
“NLC’s ability to conjure a connection of communities for the betterment of cities is exceedingly important. The incorporation of youth into the governing structures of society is quite crucial for the future of society. Training of the future leaders of the world should start early,” wrote Mr. Patel in his application essay. “Through NLC’s youth engagement, we will be able to retain the good qualities of governance and reform and learn from its mistakes. The world is a complicated place, and in order to decipher it, we must start early.”
Membership on the YEF Council is an opportunity for youth to have an ongoing voice in the work of the NLC, including its national efforts to promote youth participation in civic affairs. The Council provides advisory support to the NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute) which grew out of the belief that to thrive, cities need strong leaders who make the education, safety and health of the families and children in their communities a citywide priority.
“Rush’s passion for local governance is self-evident. On a daily basis, he immerses himself in complex considerations relevant to the shaping of political policy, the formation and stabilization of communities, and the need for government to be fair to all of its citizens,” says Dr. Tom Lolis, Upper School English Teacher and Advisor for the Student Issues Board at Stratford Academy. “Discussing these issues with Rush is always a highlight of my workday at Stratford. I’ve no doubt that Rush’s appointment is just the first step in what will be a long and influential career.”
“It is no wonder that his leadership and perspective has afforded him representation locally, at state conferences, and now on the national stage,” says Macon-Bibb County Assistant County Manager Charles Coney, who oversees the local Youth Leadership Council.
“As a new NLC YEF Council Board Member, Rushabh will acquire new governmental skills and knowledge, develop a greater sense of the public sector, and forge meaningful connections to other youth and adults,” says YEF Council Program Manager. “We welcome him and look forward to his representation.”
About Rushabh (Rush) Patel
Rushabh (Rush) Patel is the son of Dr. Dipesh & Mrs. Alpa Patel. He is a sophomore at Stratford Academy and the captain of the debate team, which has been ranked in the top 100 in the nation. Rush is a member of the Model United Nations team, which takes policymaking to tournaments on the international level. Believing he has a strong voice and the ability to get things done in an organized, structured fashion, he is passionate about continually developing his leadership skills because his generation will be the leaders soon.
Mr. Patel was fortunate to represent Macon-Bibb County as a Youth Delegate in Pittsburgh during the National League of Cities 2016 City Summit (formerly known as the Congress of Cities) this past November. During the Summit, more than 3,000 local leaders (mayors, councilmembers, and city staff) networked, discussed city priorities, and learned best practices. The Summit offered informative workshops, mobile tours, and education sessions. Speakers included: Terry Bradshaw, Hall of Fame NFL quarterback and sports broadcaster at FOX; Candy Crowley, award-winning journalist who served as CNN’s chief political correspondent; and Vernice “Flygirl” Armour, America’s First African American female combat pilot.
Mr. Patel also served as a Macon-Bibb County delegate at the at the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) 2017 Mayors’ Day Conference in Atlanta in late January. More than 700 Georgia elected officials advocated for cities, enhanced their understanding of government, expanded and debated policy matters, and attended the culminating legislative networking breakfast. The assembled groups got to hear state-wide updates from Governor Nathan Deal, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, and Speaker of the House David Ralston, as well as a video message from U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson.
For its second year, the GMA offered a Youth Conference inside of the larger conference with limited city delegations from across the state. Mr. Patel was selected as one of Macon-Bibb’s five delegates based on his “If I Were Mayor…” essay. In it, he wrote:
“If I were mayor, I would ensure the livelihood of the city. As mayor, I would not allow for any part of the city to decline. The unification of all the people in the city would be the ultimate goal. I would invest in the hearth and connectedness of the city. I would like to create a close-knit community, where there is harmony and success. From the economy, to recreation, to opportunity, I would make sure the city is the ‘full package.’ If I were mayor, I would do everything in my power to better the city for the people.”