When asked what’s important to do with St. Louis Park students today, Jeff Jacobs has one clear message- “let’s get them involved.”

Jacobs, who is stepping down from his post as the mayor of St. Louis Park after 16 years of service and 21 years serving on city council, said he believes engaging students of all ages is a vital part of any city.

“In SLP we are all about including people in the process and getting them involved in the knowledge of political power and political influence,” he said. “We love to get younger people involved because they have fresh ideas.”

One way Jacobs involves himself in the community is by visiting and speaking to high school classes. Recently he spoke in Carmen Garland’s 10th grade civics class about the importance of youth in government.

Sophomore Saamiya Amin was in Garland’s class and said she learned a lot about how government interacts with the school system.

“He was a nice guy and he was funny,” she said. “I learned there are taxpayers behind a lot of school services. Someone might think you get free lunch [from the free and reduced lunch program] but it’s not free. There’s someone behind paying for it, like a taxpayer or someone.”

Maryon Omar is another sophomore who heard Jacobs speak in Garland’s class, and said she appreciated learning about the inner workings of government even though it’s not her primary interest. She also learned about other city events she wasn’t even aware of.

“I didn’t know about the train being built until he told us about it,” she said. “When he comes and talks to us, students learn more things and get advice that they never would have known. For me personally, those types of things aren’t my main interest but I still liked when he came in and talked to us.”

Over his 16 years of serving the community, Jacobs said he has seen a large shift in the student body in terms of diversity, and believes this is for the best.

“Having a high level of diversity in our schools builds a certain level of understanding between students of different ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said. “I think it’s a real strength and I see this as a continuing trend in St. Louis Park.”

Junior Muad Abdi said he is aware of the high level of diversity at Park, and believes the school is doing a good job at making sure everyone feels equally represented.

“It’s important that kids get to know each other and get to know people who are outside their race and outside their comfort zone,” Abdi said. “The school has done a good job supporting all students with all the groups they have like boys groups and other groups like that.”

Abdi also said he believes it is important the diverse student body at Park gets involved in the local government.

“I think students should know who they would vote for if they are over 18 and know if he is the right candidate and if he is going to help them and help the school,” Abdi said. “Whatever they’re doing it involves me; if they pass a law or something it’s going to involve me and I should know what’s going to happen to me.”