An effort to connect Yolo County youth with local elected officials is set to return next month. The Youth Empower Summit’s mission is to “instill civic engagement and social responsibility by inspiring today’s youth and tomorrow’s future leaders”. The event is hosted by the Yolo County Assessor/Clerk Recorder/Elections office along with over a dozen community partners.
Jesse Salinas, Yolo County’s Registrar of Voters, highlighted the upcoming summit during a recent Woodland City Council meeting. He wanted to personally invite the newest members of the council and highlight the summit’s partnerships with the Woodland Public Library and its Teen Advisory Board.
“We’ve had just a wonderful relationship with the city and the library in particular, having youth a part of this program,” he said, also noting that the summit is a nationally award-winning program.
“And it started here in Woodland so we can all be proud of the work collectively we’ve sone here in partnership with all these great partners,” Salinas said. “What we’re looking to do, and this is what the Youth Empowerment Summit does, it teaches our young people the importance of local government. It shares with them that where things happen is at the local level and the impact that all of you have as policy makers is significant in people’s daily lives.”
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year’s summit will be held virtually on Saturday, April 24th from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration is open through April 22nd via yolosaysyes.com.
During the city council meeting, Salinas outlined different elements of the program. First there will be a dialogue between participants and school board trustees ”because we want them to understand that school boards make important decisions that impact them every day and to teach them about that and allow for a dialogue with school board members,” Salinas explained.
Students will also have a chance to talk with city and Yolo County elected officials.
“This is an opportunity for students to learn more about what you all do,” Salinas told councilmembers, “and to be able to have a conversation with you and, for you to hear about some of the challenges they’re having and how we might be able to work together in terms of bettering our community.”
The council thanked Salinas for his presentation. Each member indicated they would love to be involved with the summit.
Article Courtesy of Sarah Dowling, Editor, Daily Democrat
