Town of Paradise Valley Mayor Mark Stanton

Submitted by Mark Stanton

OPINION - The Town of Paradise Valley continues to thrive through the dedication of its community volunteers. From the mayor and Town Council to municipal judges, and board and commission members, including Planning Commission, Hillside Building Committee, Arts Board and Historical Committee, volunteers are vital to the town’s ongoing success.

In addition, organizations such as the Paradise Valley Women’s Association, Men’s Breakfast Group, and Eagle Society play a key role in fostering engagement among residents.

Last winter, a Paradise Valley high school student contacted my office to discuss forming a youth volunteer group. While municipal youth councils exist in many communities across Arizona, this concept was new to Paradise Valley. Following an initial discussion, I invited Councilmember Christine Labelle, who has shown a strong interest in youth engagement, to participate in further exploring the idea.

From those early conversations, the Paradise Valley Youth Group was formed. Comprising high school–aged residents, the group seeks to learn about local government, promote civic involvement and support community initiatives. Although not yet a formal town committee, the group has met regularly with Councilmember Labelle, Town Manager Andrew Ching and me to share ideas and develop an outreach plan.

Representing local high schools such as Chaparral, Phoenix Country Day School, Xavier, and Brophy, these young residents have organized meetings at Town Hall to establish their mission, structure and goals. Their objective is to present a formal proposal to the Town Council next year.

I commend these students for their enthusiasm and civic spirit. Their commitment reflects the enduring volunteerism that defines Paradise Valley and ensures the continued vitality of our community.

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