PROCLAMATION NO. 2024-04
WHEREAS, Aliyah Castillo served as a Gonzales Youth Commissioner for one year from June 2023 to June 2024 during her Senior years at Gonzales High School; and WHEREAS, Commissioner Aliyah Castillo successfully completed the 2023 Summer Civic Engagement & Leadership Development Fellowships and collaborated with her fellow Youth Commissioners to recruit, advise, and foster youth leadership during the school years of 2023-2024; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Aliyah Castillo represented Gonzales youth as one of the Youth Advisors to the Gonzales City Council and served as a representative of student voice at the Gonzales Unified School District Board; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Aliyah Castillo partnered with the former Youth Commissioners, the GYC, the City, Gonzales Unified School District, CSUMB and other community partners to initiate community-building strategies and events with especially notable contributions to: continue to advocating for youth mental health by leading the data collection and assessment team, conducting presentations on the mental health findings which led to being published multiple times in a certified medical journals, shaping the Community Center design, leading the implementation of the first-ever South County Youth Summit, being one of the two youth representatives and presenters for the All-America City Award Competition; and being an active spokesperson for change and resources through various means including live TV interviews, print media, reports and giving speeches where she highlighted the importance of youth engagement, mental health and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Aliyah Castillo has a long history of civic engagement. She not only currently serves as one of the City’s Youth Commissioners, she was a GYC member before taking on the Commissioner role, she is an active member of Interact, Friday Night Live, University of Santa Cruz Leaders4EARTH and the Gonzales Girl’s Tennis Club, both, of which she served four years in; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Aliyah Castillo is a forte to the community and a strong and committed advocate. She is always willing to step in and help, and is an inspiration to her classmates and other youth and adults of our community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, this 3rd Day of June in the year 2024, by the Gonzales City Council, that Aliyah Castillo is commended for her service, leadership, advocacy, and inspiration. The best wishes of Gonzales go forward with her as she pursues her higher education this fall.
Jose L. Rios, The Honorable Mayor
June 3, 2024