Maricopa City Council candidate Chrystal Allen-O'Jon says the city’s growth should be matched by greater investment in young people and community programs, according to a letter to the editor published by InMaricopa.
Allen-O'Jon wrote that while roads, housing, businesses and infrastructure are important, Maricopa also needs to focus on helping young people build confidence, creativity and a future in the city. She said leadership should begin with identifying needs, bringing people together and creating solutions.
She pointed to two initiatives she is helping develop for 2027. One is the Mini-Millionaires Workshop, which she said is meant to introduce children to financial literacy through age-appropriate activities. The other is Maricopa Fashion Week 2027, which she described as bringing together fashion, culture, youth participation, business, education and community awareness.
Allen-O'Jon said the fashion event would also celebrate Indigenous design, honor elders and raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, or MMIWG/R. She said young people ages 12 to 25 are being invited to volunteer, with parental consent required for those 17 and younger.
In the letter, she said city government cannot do everything on its own, but local leadership can help connect people, remove barriers and support partnerships. She said she would bring that approach to the City Council if elected.
