More than 140 high school students spent a recent Saturday at Irvine City Hall, putting together and pitching their own policies for a competition where winning proposals will be considered for city-wide implementation.
“They have the chance to make real change in local government,” Councilmember James Mai said of the students, most of them too young to enact change by casting a vote. “They have a fresh palette of ideas.”
The policy competition, hosted by Mai at City Hall on Jan. 24, saw students split into 18 teams to brainstorm and present to a panel their policies for how to address some of the city’s biggest topics: E-bike usage and public safety, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city and statewide housing affordability issues.
“I didn’t choose anything that was easy,” Mai said.. “I wanted it to be real-world situations that are present, current and relevant.”
Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai stands with members of Group 2, who gave the winning presentation on the topic of immigration enforcement, during the city’s inaugural high school Policy Brief Competition in the Council Chambers on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai stands with members of Group 11, who gave the winning presentation on the topic of affordable housing, during the city’s inaugural high school Policy Brief Competition in the Council Chambers on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai stands with members of Group 6, who gave the winning presentation on the topic of e-bike safety, during the city’s inaugural high school Policy Brief Competition in the Council Chambers on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai presents certificates to one of the winning teams of high school students at the conclusion the city’s inaugural Policy Brief Competition in the Council Chambers on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
A group of students from Irvine high schools give a presentation about e-bike safety, one of three assigned topics, during the inaugural Policy Brief Competition in the Council Chambers at the Irvine Civic Center on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Priyanka Singh, a high school student, and representative from Group 6, outlines her group’s policy suggestions around e-bike safety in the City of Irvine during the city’s inaugural Policy Brief Competition in the Civic Center Council Chambers on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
High School student Diego Reyes stands at a podium on the floor of the City of Irvine’s Council Chambers to outline his group’s policy suggestions around e-bike safety in the city during the inaugural Policy Brief Competition on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
A panel of judges for the City of Irvine’s inaugural Policy Brief Competition, Chief of Staff to the Vice Mayor Steve Alves, Vice Mayor James Mai, and Public Works and Sustainability Comminssioner Ron Scolesdang, from left, listen to high school student presentations about e-bike safety, affordable housing and immigration enforcement in the Council Chambers on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Zuraj Abraham, a high school student, and representative from Group 5, gives a presentation outlining his group’s policy suggestions around affordable housing in the City of Irvine during the city’s inaugural Policy Brief Competition in the Civic Center Council Chambers on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
A group of students from Irvine high schools give a presentation about immigration enforcement, one of three assigned topics, during the inaugural Policy Brief Competition in the Council Chambers at the Irvine Civic Center on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
1 of 10
Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai stands with members of Group 2, who gave the winning presentation on the topic of immigration enforcement, during the city’s inaugural high school Policy Brief Competition in the Council Chambers on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Event speakers included Mayor Larry Agran, State Sen. and former mayor Steven Choi and several other former city elected officials.
“It was high energy, and it was super competitive,” Mai said. “We brought lunch for everyone, but they didn’t want to break. They just wanted to take their food and go back to the table and plan.”
The winning three groups of students, a total of 22 youth, were recognized by councilmembers at City Hall on Jan. 27.
“Hopefully they can take something away from that and realize that they can make a difference, with just their voice, as students,” Mai said.
