What started as a nerve-wracking step outside her comfort zone has become a defining experience for Estefania Gaitan-Meza. Now in her second year on the Nevada County Youth Commission, the Truckee High School senior has grown from a shy newcomer into a confident advocate for youth voices in local government. She first learned about the commission through a teacher and was drawn in by a strong interest in public policy. “I never knew there was an opportunity for me to interact with policy and policymaking at all,” she said.
As a youth commissioner, she has enjoyed meeting with local leaders and new people. During her first year, Gaitan-Meza served on the recreation subcommittee, where she helped develop a proposal that led to free bus passes for local high school students. Now students have another way to get to school, jobs and activities. This year, Gaitan-Meza is helping with the county’s Recreation Fair April 25 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, which helped connect community members to opportunities to enjoy recreation and the outdoors. She is participating in efforts to sign up more teens for library cards and to register eligible voters ahead of the June 2 election. Gaitan-Meza is also working to secure additional internet hotspots for community members at local libraries.
Through it all, Gaitan-Meza has experienced significant personal growth. Initially shy and nervous about public speaking, she has gained confidence presenting ideas and collaborating with county leaders, including the Board of Supervisors. “The Youth Commission has changed me a lot,” she said. “I’m a lot more open person, I’m a lot more social person.” She credits the experience with helping her develop leadership, teamwork and creative problem-solving skills—especially when it comes to engaging teens.
After graduation, Gaitan-Meza plans to attend Williams College in Massachusetts, where she will major in political science. Looking ahead, she hopes to build on her Youth Commission experience through internships and continued public service. “My ultimate goal is to become a lawyer or join the United Nations,” she said.
Randy Garcia, a senior at Truckee High School and vice chair of the Nevada County Youth Commission, joined the group two years ago to learn how local government works.
The president of her school’s Model United Nations Club, she had learned about politics on the international level and wanted to get experience on the county level. She also wanted to advocate for youth interests in “things we want to implement and things we don’t think are right.”
This year, Garcia has focused on youth employment — an issue she says many students struggle with. She said her peers don’t know how to write cover letters and resumes or what to wear and not wear. “I feel like students mess that up a lot,” Garcia added with a laugh.
Last year, Garcia worked on emergency preparedness outreach, helping create seasonal safety campaigns tailored to local risks. In the winter, the group partnered on a safe driving video featuring the California Highway Patrol, addressing frequent crashes in snowy conditions. In the spring, they turned to water safety along the Yuba River, adding Spanish messaging on warnings about not swimming when the water is too cold and rapid.
Reflecting on her time with the commission, Garcia said the experience has been transformative. She loved meeting county staff who put policies into action and enjoyed learning about the procedures of public meetings. She was impressed with the state’s Brown Act, which requires local government meetings to be open to the public with advance notice and an opportunity for people to attend and comment. She realized there was more to local government than she thought. “Such a small county does so much,” she said.
The experience has awakened her to the possibilities of local government. “The Nevada County Youth commission opened and broadened my eyes and taught me how to use my voice in a sense,” she said.
After graduation, Garcia will attend Pitzer College, where she plans to major in political science and continue pursuing public service, possibly as a civil rights attorney. Her advice to future Youth Commissioners: “Be open to different opinions. Be very brave when saying what you feel.”