Public comment at the Irving City Council meeting on Jan. 16 included three substantive items: a tenth-grade student called for clearer STEM career pathways and accessible research opportunities; a resident urged the city to repair or add street lighting on William D. Hayes; and the Irving Department of Arts and Culture provided a brief events update for the Irving Arts Center.

Afri Mohammed, a tenth-grade student at North Hills Preparatory and a resident of Irving, said existing youth STEM programs in the city are valuable but leave gaps in introductory research skills and structured pathways that allow students to progress into internships and competitive research roles. Mohammed named local programs she had encountered — Girl Power by CoreLogic, CTE from Irving ISD and MiniTurn from Dallas College — and advocated for lower-cost or volunteer-based research opportunities so students without means can participate. “Research opportunities should be accessible to all students as a community service, not a privilege to only those who can afford it,” she said.

Emma West, a resident on West Northgate, described a block of William D. Hayes where newly installed poles and lights left a long unlit stretch, and she asked the council to direct staff to inspect and correct the disparity. “There were some poles and lights put up, but from Northgate, you will walk approximately the length of a football field before you get to a light,” West said, describing an uneven distribution of fixtures.

Earlier in the meeting, Debbie Fleck, vice chair of Irving Arts Board and representing the Irving Department of Arts and Culture, gave a short update on programming at the Smithsonian-affiliated Irving Arts Center. Fleck noted that the Dupree Theater had opening-weekend performances of Death Trap through Feb. 1, that the Carpenter Hall would host multiple events including an immersive show and a Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra concert, and that the Smithsonian traveling exhibition “Japanese War Brides Across the Wide Divide” runs through April 6.

Council members thanked the speakers and referred the student to the city communications director to follow up on possible program connections. The city indicated staff would handle any follow-up requested by speakers according to the Texas Open Meetings Act process for public comment.