(Culver City, Calif.) – Culver City Council candidate Andrew Weissman said the City, school district and community should work together to encourage skills young leaders will need as they get older.

“The teenage years are a critical time for young people, and we have to be sure that we provide them with every opportunity possible to develop leadership skills, understand the importance of community service and learn how they can make a difference,” said the Planning Commissioner who is on the April 8 ballot.

Weissman’s comments came after a visit to the Culver City Teen Center to review the center’s offerings.

“I was very impressed by the Teen Center’s programs,” said Weissman, who had particularly glowing remarks about the center’s Project Citizen program, which involves teens in local government. “Now, more than ever, we see that young people can and should play a role in the future of government. These are exactly the kind of programs we need to encourage.”

Weissman has a long history of supporting youth programs.

As three-time chairman and member of the Culver-Palms Family YMCA Board of Managers since 1980, Weissman has been a champion of that organization’s Youth and Government Program. Youth and Government, now in its 60^th year, involves high school youth in a variety of activities to build, encourage, and strengthen life assets and character traits enabling them to become involved, knowledgeable and responsible adults who are decent and respected citizens. The tool used is a high quality, experiential, and educational simulation based upon California’s state government.

“I know from personal experience how important programs like these are, and I will continue to work to support them,” said Weissman, who added that the City, the school district and the community need to coordinate their efforts and work together to support programs for Culver City’s teens.

For more information about Andrew Weissman, please visit www.WeissmanforCouncil.com, email info@WeissmanforCouncil.com or call (310) 839-5217.