(Washington, DC) -  Mayor Adrian Fenty presided over a mock swearing-in ceremony of the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute’s (MYLI) 51st Youth Mayor and Youth Cabinet on January 28, 2009. The one-hour ceremony was held at the Mayor’s Ceremonial Conference Room, located in the John Wilson Building at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

The swearing-in ceremony officially inaugurated the duties of the Youth Mayor and the ten-member Youth Cabinet.

The Youth Mayor, Deputy Mayors, and Youth City Council were elected by the 500+ MYLI participants to serve a one-year term.  Elections are modeled after the District’s actual election process and are held at the end of Mayor Fenty’s Summer Youth Program. The 2008-2009 Cabinet:

Elected Members

Kanesha Overton (7), Youth Mayor
Ronald Holassie (7), Deputy Youth Mayor for Legislative Affairs
Andrew Haynesworth (7), Deputy Youth Mayor for Education 
Nigel Peterson (6), Alpha Level Deputy Youth Mayor
Eugene Kinlow, II (8), Deputy Youth Mayor for Programs
Marcus Batchelor (8), Deputy Youth Mayor for Community Affairs
Mercedes Allen (6), Chair, Board of Elections

Appointed Members

Kazmene Stewart (5), Special Assistant
Kioko Butler (7), Recording Secretary
Everick Cephas (5), Advisor
Anabela Esteves (3), Chief Financial Officer

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The Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute (MYLI) is a year-round program designed to train District youth in the concepts of leadership and self-development.  For more information on the MYLI, contact the Department of Employment Services Office of Youth Programs at (202) 698-3492.