The League will host a Welcome Reception Friday night, March 1st at the Colvard Student Union on the campus of Mississippi State University. With more than 300 high school students and youth advisors traveling to Starkville for Saturday’s events, 2023-2024 Chairman of the MML Youth Committee Councilman Joseph Norwood of Meridian is inviting all Summit attendees to the campus for a night of good food, music and fellowship.
The following day, Saturday, March 2, 2024, students in grades 9-12 will attend workshops on the campus of Mississippi State University that will focus on topics such as discovering qualities of leadership, community service, college preparedness, and decision making. The City of Starkville’s Mayor’s Youth Council will present a breakout session, and attendees will also have the option to attend sessions led by campus groups, the Stennis Center for Public Service, and the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office. The conference keynote address will be given by Hattiesburg native Noah Harris, who currently serves as Confidential Assistant with the White House of Management and Budget. In addition to attending educational sessions, attendees will be giving back to the community that is hosting them for the weekend by bringing items to donate to Starkville Strong, a non-profit organization that focuses on helping with food insecurity, homelessness, housing insecurity and community advocacy and provides a support system and continuum of care to Starkville residents that will improve the chances of finding and maintaining stability.
This year’s Summit will debut a new program titled “Trade Talk,” where students will hear from companies and organizations across the state on post-high school career options available to both students heading to college, as well as those taking a non-traditional route. We are excited to host this new panel discussion and thank our inaugural sponsors, the Mississippi Chapter of the American Public Works Association, Nucor Steel Jackson, Inc., and Truckworx, for taking the time to share this valuable information with our youth councils.
More than 300 students have registered for this year’s conference, representing 17 cities and towns across the state. “This is the premier youth leadership event in Mississippi, and we are extremely proud to have been able to offer these students a more than decade worth of programming and events through the Mississippi Municipal League’s Youth Program,” said 2024 MML Youth Committee Chairman Councilman Joseph Norwood of Meridian. He added, “These young people are the future of our state, and the MML Youth Leadership Summit is a great way to engage them in thinking and preparing for their future.”
Along with the Mississippi Municipal League, sponsors include the MS Chapter of the American Public Works Association, Mississippi Power, Mississippi State University, North Mississippi Mayors Association, Nucor Steel Jackson, Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District and Truckworx.
