McLean County Times

State Senator Chris Balkema (R-Channahon) recently organized a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for high school students from the 53rd Senate District at the Illinois State Capitol. The program introduced the students to state government operations.

Alec Waliczek, a student from Coal City High School, expressed his interest in the council, saying, “I wanted to be a part of the Youth Advisory Council because I am very interested in the structure of government and political science.” He added, “We got to sit in the seats of the Senators and House of Representatives and learn all about the members. I also learned about trust through government today and voting in what you believe in and what’s right.”

The YAC program enables students to actively engage in the legislative process through a hands-on simulation. During the meeting, participants assumed roles such as legislators, advocates, media, and concerned citizens. They debated a bill focused on ensuring clean drinking water in schools—an issue that resonated with the students and stimulated in-depth discussions.

Addison Huber from Prairie Central High School commented, “Even if you do not have a position of high authority in your state’s politics, you can still make a difference. The state officials always seem far away at first, especially when you are younger; they seem too busy that you can’t talk to them, but it is really cool to come and learn that they have offices close to us and they want to hear from us.”

Senator Balkema highlighted the broader purpose of the YAC, stating, “These students brought passion and great ideas to the table. It’s inspiring to watch them take initiative on an issue as important as clean water in our schools. I hope this experience shows them that their voices truly matter.”

Sen. Balkema’s Youth Advisory Council convenes yearly and is open to high school students in his district. Interested students or educators are invited to contact the senator’s district office for future opportunities.