SOUTHSIDE— Southside City Council Member Jennifer McGriff has been appointed to the National League of Cities’ (NLC) 2026 Council on Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Council).

McGriff was elected to a one-year term on the council, where she will help develop and guide programs among local elected officials from similar communities across the nation. The appointment was announced by NLC President Kevin Kramer, a council member from Louisville, Kentucky.

“I am honored to be appointed to the National League of Cities’ Council on Youth, Education, and Families. The families of Southside are at the heart of our community, and I am proud to represent them in this important role,” McGriff said.

“Through my work as the Special Programs and Family Support Liaison for Etowah County Schools, I see the powerful connection between family engagement, educational opportunity, and student success. That experience has strengthened my commitment to listening to families, responding to their needs, and building partnerships that help children and communities thrive. I look forward to collaborating with leaders from across the country, bringing innovative ideas and proven strategies back to Southside, and ensuring our families have a voice in the conversations and decisions that shape the future of our children.”

As a member of NLC’s YEF Council, McGriff will work alongside a diverse group of local leaders to encourage collaboration, networking, and the development of resources and programs that benefit communities with similar demographics, size, or location. The council also focuses on identifying strategies and solutions that can be replicated in communities across the country.

“National League of Cities’ member councils design and create NLC’s policies that bring together innovative ideas and solutions to the biggest challenges facing local leaders across the country,” Kramer said. “I am thrilled to have Councilmember Jennifer McGriff serve on NLC’s YEF Council this year as we work together to ensure our cities, towns, and villages have the resources they need to create thriving communities.”

The 2026 YEF Council will be led by Chair Sonja Brown, Mayor of Glenn Heights, Texas; Vice-Chair Denise Mitchell, Councilmember of College Park, Maryland; and Vice-Chair Scott Brook, Mayor of Coral Springs, Florida.

The National League of Cities represents and advocates for America’s cities, towns, and villages, providing resources, policy guidance, and networking opportunities for local elected officials nationwide.

For more information about NLC member councils, visit nlc.org/member-councils.