69 High School Leaders Selected to Represent all 15 Arizona Counties in Driving Youth-Led Civic Solutions
PHOENIX — The Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF) announced the selection of the 2026-2027 Governor’s Youth Commission (GYC), appointing 69 high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors representing the urban, rural, and tribal communities from all 15 Arizona counties.
“Arizona’s future is strengthened when young people have the opportunity to share their perspectives, shape solutions, and participate in the decisions that affect their lives,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “The Governor’s Youth Commission brings together students from across our state to engage on the issues that matter most to their generation, from supporting youth mental health to protecting our natural resources. By creating space for youth voices to be heard, we are advancing the Arizona Promise and building an Arizona where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”
Established in 1989, the GYC serves as Arizona’s statewide youth advisory body, engaging high school students in volunteerism, service-learning, civic engagement, and collaboration with state and local partners. Selected through a competitive application process, commissioners serve a one-year term as youth leaders in their communities, working alongside peers from across Arizona to share their perspectives on local needs and develop youth-led initiatives. Through five workgroups focused on Conservation and Sustainability, Education, Domestic Violence, Mental Health, and Substance Use Prevention, commissioners collaborate with community partners to lead service projects, outreach efforts, and civic engagement activities that strengthen communities across the state.
“By creating opportunities for Arizona’s youth to turn their passion for service into actionable impact, we are supporting the next generation of community changemakers,” said the GOYFF Director Tonya Hamilton. “These 69 commissioners bring unique perspectives from communities across our state, and I look forward to seeing how they work alongside their peers, community partners, and local leaders to develop initiatives that address local priorities and create lasting impact.”
The commissioners will begin their term during the GYC Quarter 1 Meeting and Orientation on Saturday, August 22, 2026, where they will meet fellow commissioners from across the state and begin planning the initiatives, service projects, and outreach efforts that will guide their work throughout the program year. Learn more about the GYC’s ongoing initiatives by visiting the GOYFF’s GYC’s webpage.
