Queen Creek teen committee unveils plans for $5K donation

The Mayor’s Teen Advisory Committee is making the most of a $5,000 donation.

In February, the Queen Creek Town Council accepted the donation from communications infrastructure company Crown Castle.

Members of the Mayor’s Teen Advisory Committee revealed their plans for the money during the council’s most recent meeting. The item was discussion-only and no council action was taken.

“In receiving the $5,000 Crown Castle donation, we plan to separate the fund amongst four projects,” Christabel Emenim, vice chair of the committee, told the council.

A downtown art mural project focusing on teen mental health will receive $1,500. The money will cover art-related expenses and an unveiling ceremony.

The committee plans to use $2,000 for a new teen event in the fall. The funds will cover start-up costs for the event, such as new equipment.

The committee will spend $1,000 to hold another drive-in movie as it works to establish it as a signature event for the group. In December, the committee hosted a showing of “Elf” for teens at Frontier Family Park. The donation will cover licensing, supplies and outreach.

“The drive-in movie in December was a huge success, so we are planning to renew it annually,” Emenim said.

The remainder of the donation, $500, will go toward community outreach and volunteer projects.

Under the direction of Mayor Julia Wheatley, the Mayor’s Teen Advisory Committee was officially created by the council in 2024.

The committee focuses on:

• Addressing concerns and challenges affecting teens in the community.
• Organizing and participating in volunteer projects and initiatives.
• Providing input on policies and programs that impact teens.
• Planning teen-oriented events, workshops and forums.
• Advocating for the needs and interests of teens to local government and community stakeholders.
• Promoting civic engagement and educating.

“You guys know what you need and what other teens need and you guys are rocking it,” Council Member Leah Martineau said. “I’m really excited to see what you guys have coming up in the future, and I know they’re going to be successful.”

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.