City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Youth Advisory Council  
701 E. Broadway  
Columbia, MO. 65201  
Conference Room  
1A/1B  
Wednesday, November 12, 2025  
6:00 PM  
Regular  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m.  
10 -  
Present:  
Emily Crumbliss, Grace Harris, Ahlam Alamin, Aanya Shetty, Mira Tosh, Eleanor  
Schierding, Xi Kang, Laya Anand, Aryan Debnath and Blair Townsend  
5 - Alex Hiles, John Yu, Jacquelyn Sample, Kai Kuroki and Ellie Brooks  
Excused:  
Absent:  
1 - Harvey Munter  
II. INTRODUCTIONS  
Josh Theus, Media and Creative Services Supervisor was introduced to talk about YAC’s  
proposal for a social media presence. He is here to discuss the logistics and legal  
considerations of doing social media in conjunction with the city.  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Motion to approve the agenda made by Ahlam Alamin, seconded by Emily  
Crumbliss; motion carried.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to approve the October minutes made by Mira Tosh, seconded by Laya  
Anand; motion carried.  
YAC Draft Meeting Minutes- October 14, 2025  
Attachments: YAC Draft Meeting Minutes-October 14, 2025  
VII. OLD BUSINESS  
Youth Summit Planning  
The YAC confirmed an Earth Day Youth Summit. The YAC listed potential attendee  
groups as: Parks and Rec, Youth Employment Opportunities, CERF, Red Cross,  
Recycling Organization (City of Columbia affiliated), and Local Motion. Grace Harris  
proposed a Bingo stamp system to optimize engagement with the booths. Mira Tosh  
added that these stamps could be given based upon engagement with the Three Areas of  
Focus. The YAC proposed City of Columbia merchandise as a prize for completing the  
bingo board. Ahlam Alamin confirmed that the age demographic for the Youth Summit  
would be teenagers.  
Service Project Ideas for Areas of Focus  
The YAC discussed their Three Areas of Focus: Sustainability, Wellness, Safety and  
Security. Grace Harris notified YAC of a Honeysuckle Cleanup Volunteer project idea  
with science teacher Mike Slydowski (November 23, 2025 from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm).  
Josh Theus highlighted how outreach events need a signed consent form for photos.  
Rebecca Roesslet, Public Health and Human Services Director sent an email with ideas  
for YAC activities. This included vaping, maternal child health, and public health  
department education. Matt Stephens with CPD suggested discussing gun safety  
campaigns as a guest speaker.  
VIII. NEW BUSINESS  
Social Media Workshop  
Josh Theus announced that YAC will not be able to directly create and run their own  
account, following up with more information in the form of a social media workshop. He  
discussed how YAC may be able to produce instagram content through the city’s  
account. The limitations to producing content was that it had to be sent to the city for  
edits and confirmation, and most likely required a YAC subcommittee for Social Media.  
Working groups may be an alternative to this. Everything posted on the account would be  
a legal sunshineable document. Emily Crumbliss, Laya Anand, and Eleanor Schierding  
showed interest in joining this possible subcommittee.  
YAC presented their homework on social media ideas, it included: Farmer’s Market Park  
Cleanup, Volunteering Areas and Businesses, Featuring Specific Sustainable  
Businesses, Informational Videos on different safety topics. Aanya Shetty posed the idea  
of polls under posts to collect citizen input. Josh Theus concluded that posting may be a  
multi-month process at first. Lacey Salazar confirmed a Social Media Toolkit (Dos &  
Don’ts) would be created for YAC use.  
IX. REPORTS  
Lacey Salazar presented November Newsletter featuring some Youth Programs in CoMo:  
Day Dreams Foundation  
PEACE and HOPE Center for Youth  
Young Life Columbia  
Dream Tree Academy  
CYBA  
November Newsletter  
Attachments: November Newsletter  
X. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
Lacey Salazar commented that the YAC Press Release is being Reviewed and Edited  
There is a Superintendent Meeting: Lacey Salazar, Grace Harris, and Ahlam Alamin are  
attending (Nov 20)  
CouncilPerson: Let’s Talk Local (Nov 18)  
XII. NEXT MEETING DATE  
December 9, 2025  
XIII. ADJOURNMENT  
Emily Crumbliss motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Xi Kang. [motion  
carried]. The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 pm.  
Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to  
disability, please call 573.874.CITY (2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in making  
the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in advance of  
the posted meeting date as possible.  
USB DRIVES PROHIBITED: A speaker who desires to display a presentation must upload the  
presentation, in advance, to the city network using an upload portal. To upload your files and learn  
more, visit CoMo.gov/upload.