City of Jonesboro Named 2025 Volunteer Community of the Year Award Winner

JONESBORO, Ark. — The City of Jonesboro has been named a 2025 Volunteer Community of the Year Award recipient, earning top honors in the category of Most Youth Engagement for its commitment to youth leadership through the Mayor’s Youth Advancement Council (MYAC).

The Volunteer Community of the Year Awards are co-sponsored by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism (Engage Arkansas) and the Arkansas Municipal League, recognizing cities and towns that strengthen civic life through volunteer-driven initiatives.

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Jonesboro was selected for its innovative and high-impact MYAC program, which has expanded from 40 to 99 student members and contributed more than 1,178 volunteer hours during the 2024–2025 year. MYAC members work alongside city departments and community partners to support initiatives focused on health and safety outreach, beautification efforts, equity-focused events, and large-scale community engagement.

“Jonesboro’s young people are proving every day that leadership has no age requirement,” said Mayor Harold Copenhaver “MYAC was created so any student who wants to be involved in civic life has the opportunity to do so. “

The program reflects the city’s commitment to investing in tomorrow’s leaders by opening doors, amplifying student voices, and ensuring young people have a seat at the table.

Established in 2021, MYAC provides high school students with a structured role in municipal government through task forces aligned with city departments, including Communications & Outreach, Diversity & Inclusion, Health & Safety, Planning & Engineering, and Beautification.

The council’s work has led to several notable initiatives, including:

· Jonesboro 411 App — a youth-developed municipal information platform recognized in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge

· Spring Community Fair — connecting North Jonesboro residents with local resources, vendors, and free family activities

· MYAC Giving Tree / Giving Table — providing food, hygiene items, and seasonal essentials to residents in need

· Community beautification and outreach projects — including graffiti removal, park cleanups, Earth Day events, cultural programming, coding camps, and youth-led safety education

Award recipients are selected in categories such as Best City, Best Mid-Sized Town, Best Small Town, Most Innovative, Most Sustainable, Most Resilient, and Most Youth Engagement. Winners will receive two honorary road signs designating their community as a 2025 Volunteer Community of the Year from Arkansas Department of Transportation.

With this recognition, the City of Jonesboro reaffirms its commitment to inclusive civic engagement and youth leadership through its “Always Moving” philosophy.

Administered by Engage Arkansas, the Volunteer Community of the Year Award has honored more than 130 Arkansas communities over its 45-year history. Award recipients will be formally recognized at the Arkansas Municipal League Winter Conference in Little Rock on January 16, 2026