Youth Empowerment Summit
A coalition of students led by Ukiah High School Junior, Bode Gower, has organized a Youth Empowerment Summit. Participation is free to students (grades 9-12) and will be Saturday, April 20 from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Ukiah High School’s Cafetorium, 1000 Low Gap Road.
Recently established, the Northern California Youth Policy Coalition—a 60-member group of high school students from 30 counties—is a non-partisan coalition that advocates for issues important to youth. Young citizens who attend the summit will be trained how to “make their voices heard in local government and board meetings to impact positive political change in rural Northern California counties,” according to the group’s website.
The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Mendocino County is a sponsoring partner with the Northern California Youth Policy Coalition. The LWV is a non-partisan political organization that strives to encourage informed, active and civil citizen participation in government.
“Young people’s interest and involvement in all levels of government, particularly local government, will keep our democracy growing stronger,” says Cindy Plank of the Mendocino League. “We’re excited for the opportunity to partner with these students to support their desire to learn how to do their part to sustain and protect democracy.”
The training is designed to provide students a better understanding of not only how government systems work, but what they (citizens) must do to make it work. Members of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will guide participants through a mock supervisorial meeting about recent Mendocino County issues to provide participating students a civics-learning opportunity by engaging them in a hands-on, project-based learning activity.
Alice Fried, member of the Solano League and creator of its Democracy Matters Civics Education Program will present training which consists of three hallmark league activities and programs that provide tools and resources on how to participate in the government process of debating, electing, governing and consensus building:
1) Observer Corps Training (including Sunshine Laws)
2) How to Plan and Conduct a Forum
3) How to register voters; how to vote.
“It is important that we prepare students to enter adulthood and society to be responsible citizens respectful of humanity, individual dignity and with a community mindset,” said Ms. Fried, recipient of the 2023 California District 8 Woman of the Year award for her LWV work. “Democracy is not something that we have. It is something that we do.”
More information about the summit, the Northern California Youth Policy Coalition and a link to registration for the summit is at https://www.ncypc.com/events-1
Contact: Cindy Plank, LWVMC Youth Outreach
info@lwvmendo.org
P.O. Box 1128, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Phone: (707) 937-4952 | Email: info@lwvmendo.org
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