The Lake County State's Attorney's Office is excited to announce the creation of the Young Ambassadors Board. The members of the Young Ambassadors Board are dedicated to serving and empowering their peers for the betterment of our community. These Ambassadors will lead by example and work together throughout Lake County, to raise awareness and to improve the wellbeing and education of our youth. Inaugural membership into the program was offered in the fall of 2017 to students between the ages of 13 and 17 throughout Lake County middle schools and high schools and is administered by State's Attorney employees Carrie Wings and Melissa Burke. Forty members of the Youth Ambassadors Board and their parents first gathered at the Lake County Courthouse in November, 2017. Featured speakers included State's Attorney Mike Nerheim and Motivational Speaker Juan Ortiz.

Since the initial meeting, the Youth Ambassadors have met collectively four times, brainstorming about goals and initiatives, and from those meetings, seven subcommittees were delegated to meet multiple times a month, focusing on issues important to youth, such as cyber safety, teen dating violence, and anti-drug and alcohol prevention. For example, the first project developed by the teen dating subcommittee was a healthy awareness poster contest throughout Lake County Schools. Three eighth grade winners from Woodland Middle School were selected; Leslie O., Elizabeth I., and Mylene M., and on February 16th, Mike Nerheim awarded them certificates of participation. Their artwork will be made into posters and displayed in schools throughout Lake County describing the importance of healthy teen dating relationships.

The Lake County State's Attorney's Office Youth Ambassadors Program encourages Lake County teens to participate in this program. Applications will be available throughout middle schools and high schools for interested students in the fall. The mission of the Youth Ambassadors is not only to have a positive presence throughout their school, but to volunteer in the community of Lake County as well.

Application for 2018-2019 coming soon!