GONZALES — City of Gonzales’ 2025-26 Gonzales Youth Council (GYC) has been selected, and this year will be led by Youth Commissioners Shelby Anderson, Orlando Rodriguez Perez and Richard Rodriguez Perez.
Members chosen to serve on the youth council include Amanda Ayala, Aiden Borongan, Silvestre Hernandez, Adriel Lambert, Melanie Ochoa and Brandy Ochoa-Valdez.
“The City of Gonzales has a long history of supporting youth development, working closely with the Gonzales Unified School District to better understand and address the needs of its younger residents,” stated City officials in a news release.
In 2015, the City strengthened its commitment with the creation of the GYC, a unique mentoring and leadership program designed to engage students in civic life and provide direct opportunities for participation in city government and decision-making.
Youth Commissioners hold non-voting seats on the Gonzales City Council, giving them a voice in discussions. All GYC members work closely with city officials and department heads who serve as mentors throughout their term.
Over the years, the GYC has influenced community change by supporting city measures, providing input on policy decisions and leading community-based projects.
Past GYC projects include input into the city’s cannabis strategy, helping develop an ordinance regulating underage drinking, and conducting a mental health survey of Gonzales high school students that led to the school hiring of a second licensed clinical social worker. The GYC also launched an environmental initiative to reduce the use of plastic straws.
The signature achievement is the Teen Innovation Center, a venue proposed and worked on by the GYC over several years and is currently under construction as part of the new Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center, opening in January 2026.
“The GYC’s integration into the fabric of local government ensures that youth voices remain a vital part of Gonzales’ present and future decision-making,” according to the City. “Its long-term success has made Gonzales’ program a model for other cities looking to increase youth engagement and involvement, including Soledad, Greenfield and Salinas.”
