Graham Park students step into leadership—sparking action on pollinator protection and youth civic engagement in Dumfries.

By Mayor Derrick R. Wood
March 21, 2026

One of my core beliefs as Mayor is simple:

Leadership isn’t something you wait for it’s something you step into.

And in Dumfries, we are intentional about creating space for that to happen early.

This week, I had the privilege of sitting alongside my council colleagues, Councilman Russell Young, who we recently appointed to help lead the development of our Youth Council and Councilwoman Caetrina Peterson, as we welcomed 7th grade students from Graham Park Middle School to our Town Council meeting.

What we witnessed wasn’t just participation.

It was leadership.

One by one, these students stepped to the podium with confidence and clarity.

Their focus: protecting wildlife and pollinators as Dumfries continues to grow.

Among those who spoke were David and Enrique, with additional students stepping forward to share their voices as well.

They spoke about the importance of pollinator-friendly plants, the role of development in shaping environmental outcomes, and the responsibility of local government to balance growth with sustainability.

As I listened, what stood out most wasn’t just what they said it was how they said it.

They understood the assignment.

They connected their ideas directly to policy.

Behind every moment like this is someone who planted the seed.

That someone is Janira Collado-Toro, an Emergent Bilingual teacher at Graham Park Middle School.

She shared something powerful with us.

More than 30 years ago, as a student in Puerto Rico, she wrote a letter to her Mayor and never received a response.

That experience stayed with her.

And this week, she made sure her students didn’t just write letters.

She brought them into the room.

That’s the difference one educator can make turning a missed opportunity into a meaningful experience for the next generation.

Moments like this don’t happen by accident.

They are the result of intentional leadership and a shared commitment to engagement.

In Dumfries, we are working to build a culture where people especially young people feel empowered to speak, participate, and influence.

Because civic engagement should not start at adulthood.

It should start with awareness, be nurtured through opportunity, and grow into influence.

Too often, we talk about “the next generation” as if they are waiting in line.

They’re not.

They’re ready now.

And as Mayor, my responsibility is not just to lead today it’s to help develop leaders for tomorrow.

These students didn’t just participate in a meeting.

They demonstrated what it looks like to identify a problem, understand its impact, and bring solutions to decision-makers.

That is the foundation of leadership.

Their voices were heard and they matter.

As a result of their advocacy, we are actively exploring ways to incorporate pollinator-friendly practices into our development and landscaping guidance, align environmental sustainability with our long-term growth strategy, and expand opportunities for youth to engage directly in our civic process.

Because when our young people show up, leadership requires that we respond.

This moment also reinforces the importance of the work already underway.

With Councilman Russell Young helping lead the development of our Youth Council, we are taking intentional steps to ensure that moments like this are not one-time experiences but part of a sustained pipeline for youth leadership in Dumfries.

We are not just inviting young people into the room.

We are building a structure that keeps them at the table.

I often say: people don’t see what’s there they see what they’re programmed to see.

This week, these students helped us see something clearly:

Leadership has no age requirement.

And in Dumfries, we’re making sure it always has a place.

The future of Dumfries isn’t coming.

It’s already speaking and we’re making sure it’s heard.