In December, the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, was named the 2025 Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year in the category of Most Youth Engagement.

The Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year Awards—administered by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism (Engage Arkansas) and the Arkansas Municipal League, recognize Arkansas communities that strengthen civic life through exceptional volunteer-driven initiatives. The City of Jonesboro received this honor for its commitment to youth leadership through the Mayor’s Youth Advancement Council (MYAC).

Founded in 2021, MYAC provides high school students in grades 9–12 from across Jonesboro—including Jonesboro High School, Valley View High School, Westside High School, Nettleton High School, private schools, and homeschooled students—with a direct role in local government. Council members participate in five task force areas aligned with city boards and departments: City Beautification, Communications and Outreach, Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Safety, and Planning and Engineering.

The council’s mission is to involve local youth in community issues and decisions, advise the mayor and city council from a youth perspective, and empower future leaders to become actively engaged in their community.

Through this work, the MYAC has led several impactful community initiatives including

• Jonesboro 411 App: A youth-driven municipal engagement app that provides residents information on public events, sanitation services, bus schedules, pothole reporting, and more. The app earned second in Arkansas Congressional District 1 during the 2024 Congressional App Challenge.
• MYAC Giving Tree: An annual initiative that responds to the needs of urgent needs of residents during the winter months through the donations and distribution of winter clothing, hygiene products, and food items.
• Spring Community Event: A free annual community event for local residents featuring local vendors, arts and crafts booths, live music, and a free complimentary lunch, along with a “Leave What You Can, Take What You Need” canned and boxed food drive.

The City of Jonesboro was selected as the recipient for the Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year for the category of Most Youth Engagement because of its dedication to investing in the youth—not only for the future of the city, but also for the betterment of the State of Arkansas.

MYAC equips young student leaders with collaboration and problem-solving skills while engaging them as active participants in their local government and making an impact on their community.

Jonesboro’s Mayor’s Youth Advancement Council serves as a powerful reminder that young leaders are often the catalysts for meaningful change in our communities. By bringing in fresh perspectives, new and innovative ideas, and new approaches to local community challenges, the youth leaders of today help set a strong foundation for our communities to be on a successful path forward not just for today but for the next generation of community leaders and those who follow them for decades to come.

To learn more about our annual Volunteer Community of the Year Awards, visit: EngageArkansas.org/community-of-the-year-award

This article is part of the Engage Arkansas 2026 Civic Challenge. The Civic Challenge focuses on one vital impact area affecting Arkansans statewide each month. In February, Engage Arkansas highlighted the importance of youth leadership. To learn more about Engage Arkansas, visit EngageArkansas.org.

Axton Tackett, February 2026