Phoenix honors ASU Maryvale Youth Leadership Program with Civic Engagement Award
High school students from the west Phoenix neighborhood of Maryvale worked with residents and artists Adam Vigil (left) and Larry Valenzuela (right) to create a mural along a path adjacent to the Grand Canal the teens use to walk to school between 51st and 59th avenues, south of Indian School Road. Photo courtesy of Design Studio for Community Solutions
An Arizona State University-based youth leadership training program serving the west Phoenix neighborhood of Maryvale received the city of Phoenix’s District 7 Civic Engagement Award at a Sept. 7 ceremony.
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions-based Design Studio for Community Solutions (DSCS) developed the Maryvale Youth Leadership Program (YLP) in collaboration with the Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department, local high school students, community partners, governmental agencies and residents.
The annual award recognizes neighborhood groups or individuals for outstanding efforts, who went the extra mile for their neighborhoods, according to the department, which presented the award at its 2024 Neighborhood Synergy Conference.
Since it began in 2022, teenagers in the program have painted murals, cleaned debris from local properties and held community events as they've learn how to become confident leaders. The teens meet weekly, connecting with peers, local officials and community members while gaining valuable experience for their futures.
The program empowers high school students to become community leaders through personal growth, skill development and community engagement, according to a statement from the Neighborhood Services Department. The youth in the program value diversity, integrity and collaboration, striving to positively impact the community through leadership and service, the department said.
Maryvale YLP is supported by Mike and Cindy Watts’ 2018 gift to the college, said DSCS Director Allison Mullady.
“The Maryvale Youth Leadership program embodies all of our design studio core principles, since it is built with the high school students and evolves with them. This has been key in their retention and learning, because they engage in high-level leadership and advocacy skills through hands-on projects they believe in,” Mullady said.
During the past year, Maryvale YLP students met with city officials, led community meetings, interviewed and hired mural artists, and recently became an official neighborhood association, Mullady said.
“The skills they are learning will not only set them up for future success but build up the capacity of the Maryvale community,” she said. “They know how to make change and get things done for their community.”
Phoenix District 7 Councilmember Carlos Galindo-Elvira said students have been honing their leadership skills through the Maryvale YLP for more than two years.
“I am honored to have this cohort of students learning and giving back to their community as a means of preparing tomorrow’s leaders,” Galindo-Elvira said. “Through their contributions, Maryvale and Phoenix will flourish and empower youth to take an active interest in their community.”
DSCS senior program coordinator Stephanie Castillo leads the program, assisted by ASU student workers Manuel Elizalde and Daniel Moton.
“The Maryvale Youth Leadership Program empowers young people to take the lead in their community, emphasizing the rich diversity and strength that make Maryvale special,” Castillo said. “By focusing on these assets, our youth have not only created impactful projects but also fostered a deeper connection to their community and its future.”
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