DUARTE, CA, September 5, 2008 - The City of Duarte will host an information luncheon for high school juniors interested in learning about an opportunity to become the Duarte Mayor's Teen Liaison. The luncheon will be held Thursday, Oct. 2 at 12 noon at the Duarte Community Center, 1600 Huntington Dr.

The purpose of the Mayor's Teen Liaison program is to empower Duarte youth said Duarte Mayor Phil Reyes. "Through this program we hope to reduce gang involvement, increase resident involvement in youth, improve relationships between high school students and the city, and provide mentors from civic leadership," he said.

To be eligible for consideration as the Mayor's Teen Liaison, the applicant must be a junior in high school, or 16 to 17 year-old resident of the city, or a student at Duarte High School or Mt. Olive High School. To apply, students are invited to submit a letter of interest to either Michelle Trails at Duarte High School, Melinda Branch at Mt. Olive High School, or Donna Georgino at the Duarte Teen Center.

Responsibilities of the Mayor's Teen Liaison will be to meet with the City's Mayor to learn about the city and the mayoral responsibilities, attend meetings, report to the high school on the events and activities of the city, meet with the support team consisting of representatives of the City of Duarte, Duarte High School, and Westminster Gardens, a community partner in the program. The Mayor's Teen Liaison will receive a stipend from a portion of funds raised from Westminster Gardens' annual Cinco de Mayo celebration.

For more information, call Deputy City Manager Karen Herrera at (626) 357-7931, ext. 221.