Manager's Minute with Concordia City Manager Amy Lange

This May, we celebrated our high school and college graduates, their accomplishments as well as their dreams and aspirations of success as adults. We cheered for our students as they competed in post-season athletics, performed on stage, showed their talents on canvas, and as they received their diplomas. As June begins, we observe the transition to summer as our youth begin new activities and become part of our seasonal workforce. As we continue our series on the topic of “Loving our Community,” we focus on the young people in our community…the future of our community.

During the school year, I had an incredible opportunity to interact with the Concordia High School class of 2025 through their Senior Seminar course. This capstone program includes lessons of practical application of home and car maintenance, financial management, and general responsibilities of being an adult. Through small group coffee conversations, these students shared their ideas and dreams in a low-risk conversational style that I know helped build their confidence to speak respectfully in uncomfortable settings in the future. It was fun to visit with students I normally see working in our local businesses or representing CHS in competitions. Encouraging our youth in a way that develops their confidence is one way we can love our community.

The City of Concordia relies heavily on our youth to operate our recreational summer programs. This year we hired 65 seasonal workers to serve concessions at the pool and ballfields, to help maintain our parks, to shepherd groups of children attending Summer Playground, to umpire baseball and softball games, and to guard the safety of our patrons at the swimming pool. This is a first real job for many of our local teenagers. We have the opportunity to guide them through filling out a job application, completing new employee paperwork, which for some includes opening up their first bank account so they can receive their first paycheck. We get to train them why it is important and impactful to keep spaces clean and safe, to properly count back change, to speak respectfully during times of conflict, and to remain focused on the task at hand. What an incredible opportunity to love the youth of Concordia!

Concordia is full of opportunities for our adult residents to serve our youth in a loving way. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to coach a sport, to provide direction on stage or music to support a production, or to lead a group of youth in their faith journey. Thank you also to all our business owners and organizations who have provided internship and paid opportunities for your youth to learn and work, and ultimately serve the public. Your leadership is teaching our youth what it means to serve a community well.

Thank you for loving our community by supporting our youth and setting a great example of what it means to be a responsible resident. Each word of encouragement and supportive action is an investment in our future. Concordia…We Build Community!