Ventura, CA – Ventura County teens will soon have an opportunity to make a difference by joining the first-ever Ventura County Transportation Commission Teen Council. In preparation, VCTC will host four focus groups on June 22-24 involving local students to identify and discuss those transportation issues important to them. Sessions will be held as follows:

· June 22 – Moorpark College – 10:00 a.m.

· June 23 – Oxnard College – 10:00 a.m.

· June 23 – Santa Paula Community Center – 2:00 p.m.

· June 24 – Alex Fiore Teen Center (Thousand Oaks) – 11:00 a.m.

To participate in the focus groups, interested teens should contact Donna Cole at (805) 642-1591, extension 101 or dcole@goventura.org before June 17. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, and each focus group will be limited to eight. All focus group participants will receive a $25 VISA gift card.

The goal of the Teen Council, which will launch at the beginning of the Fall 2011 school year, is to raise awareness of transportation, air quality, and other community-wide issues among local youth in a community service-oriented environment. Teen Council members will participate in monthly meetings throughout the school year and assist with transportation-related service or community activities.

“The Teen Council is a great opportunity for Ventura County’s young people to have their voices heard by Ventura County Supervisors, municipal leaders, and the community at-large,” noted Darren Kettle, VCTC’s Executive Director. “We are very excited about having the chance to work with our county’s future leaders.”

More information about the VCTC Teen Council focus groups is available online at www.goventura.org or by calling (800) 438-1112.