Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke has been appointed co-chair of the National League of Cities 2018 Council on Youth, Education, and Families, according to a news release from the mayor’s office.
The council guides and oversees the work of the Institute for Youth, Education, and Families, said the release from Deputy Chief of Staff Kerry Hayes. Berke’s co-chair is East Point, Ga., mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham.
Additionally, the council fosters peer-learning and networking opportunities for elected municipal leaders; stimulates effective leadership on behalf of children, youth and families; and elevates the voices of city and youth leaders in broader discussions of the needs of youth, children and families.
“Improving the lives of young people is the smartest and most strategic investment any city can make,” Berke said in the release.
He said his administration has invested in early learning, including the Baby University program for families, and has worked with the Chattanooga Police Department and other partners “to give young people support and push them in a positive direction.”
“I look forward to collaborating with other members of the Council on Youth, Education, and Families on new initiatives and ideas that will let us to help even more children,” the mayor said.
Clifford M. Johnson, executive director of the Institute for Youth, Education, and Families, praised Berke for “getting results and improving outcomes for children and families in Chattanooga.”
Johnson added, “We are delighted to have the benefit of his experience and insights in guiding our national work, and look forward to sharing examples of creativity and progress under his leadership in Chattanooga with city leaders across the nation.”