Civic-minded high school students in Cobb County have a chance to learn about the workings of government and enhance their resumes at the same time.
Cobb County announced in a news release that applications are open for the 2023-24 Cobb County Youth Commission.
High school students in grades 9-11 are eligible.
According to the news release, “The program provides an opportunity to learn about the inner workings of local government, engage in civic affairs, and become leaders of change in the community. It is also a prestigious experience to add to resumes and college applications.”
In addition to the application, students need to provide a letter of recommendation from a community member such as a teacher, counselor, principal, religious leader, or community leader who has known the applicant for at least one year.
The news release describes past programs as follows: “In previous years, students have designed service projects, town halls, met and engaged with community leaders, and took a trip to the state capitol.”
The deadline to submit applications and references is 5 p.m. on Friday, October 27. Previous youth commissioners are not eligible to apply.
The link to apply is https://tinyurl.com/ccyouthcommission23-24
If you have questions, contact Janine Ramsay, 770-528-3305 or Brittani Lee, bkelley@uga.edu 770-528-4070
About Cobb County
Cobb County is the third most populous county in Georgia, smaller only than Fulton and Gwinnett counties.
The governing authority is the five-member Cobb County Board of Commissioners, which includes a Chairperson and four district commissioners.
The current board is:
| Chairwoman | Lisa Cupid |
| District 1 Commissioner | Keli Gambrill |
| District 2 Commissioner | Jerica Richardson |
| District 3 Commissioner | JoAnn Birrell |
| District 4 Commissioner | Monique Sheffield |
The U.S. Census Bureau gives the following quick facts about the county:
| PeoplePopulation | |
| Population Estimates, July 1 2021, (V2021) | 766,802 |
| Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2021) | 766,149 |
| Population, percent change – April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2021, (V2021) | 0.1% |
| Population, Census, April 1, 2020 | 766149 |
| Population, Census, April 1, 2010 | 688078 |
| Age and Sex | |
| Persons under 5 years, percent | 5.6% |
| Persons under 18 years, percent | 22.7% |
| Persons 65 years and over, percent | 13.3% |
| Female persons, percent | 51.3% |
| Race and Hispanic Origin | |
| White alone, percent | 61.7% |
| Black or African American alone, percent(a) | 29.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) | 0.5% |
| Asian alone, percent(a) | 5.7% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) | 0.1% |
| Two or More Races, percent | 2.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) | 13.7% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent | 50.2% |
| Population Characteristics | |
| Veterans, 2016-2020 | 40562 |
| Foreign born persons, percent, 2016-2020 | 15.6% |
| Housing | |
| Housing units, July 1, 2021, (V2021) | 311450 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2016-2020 | 65.8% |
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2016-2020 | $273,900 |
| Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2016-2020 | $1,672 |
| Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2016-2020 | $474 |
| Median gross rent, 2016-2020 | $1,264 |
| Building permits, 2021 | 3247 |
| Families & Living Arrangements | |
| Households, 2016-2020 | 283359 |
| Persons per household, 2016-2020 | 2.63 |
| Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2016-2020 | 84.6% |
| Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2016-2020 | 20.5% |
| Computer and Internet Use | |
| Households with a computer, percent, 2016-2020 | 97.2% |
| Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2016-2020 | 93.3% |
| Education | |
| High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-2020 | 92.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-2020 | 48.4% |
| Health | |
| With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2016-2020 | 6.2% |
| Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent | 13.8% |
| Economy | |
| In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-2020 | 69.6% |
| In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-2020 | 64.3% |
| Total accommodation and food services sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 2056579 |
| Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 5569500 |
| Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 1536858 |
| Total retail sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 18543691 |
| Total retail sales per capita, 2017(c) | $24,615 |
| Transportation | |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2016-2020 | 31.2 |
| Income & Poverty | |
| Median household income (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020 | $80,830 |
| Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020 | $41,480 |
| Persons in poverty, percent | 9.2% |
| BusinessesBusinesses | |
| Total employer establishments, 2020 | 21492 |
| Total employment, 2020 | 358927 |
| Total annual payroll, 2020 ($1,000) | 21780372 |
| Total employment, percent change, 2019-2020 | -0.3% |
| Total nonemployer establishments, 2019 | 86497 |
| All employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 17066 |
| Men-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 10386 |
| Women-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 3537 |
| Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 3058 |
| Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 12177 |
| Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 1204 |
| Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 13909 |
| GeographyGeography | |
| Population per square mile, 2020 | 2254.8 |
| Population per square mile, 2010 | 2026.4 |
| Land area in square miles, 2020 | 339.78 |
| Land area in square miles, 2010 | 339.55 |
