Young minds see ways to build a better future

ENCOURAGING YOUNG LEADERS—McKayla Rosen, 14, bursts out laughing while playing a teambuilding game during a breakout session with her group at the Simi Valley Youth Summit on Feb. 25. This year’s event, themed “Build a Better World,” featured keynote speaker Patrick Maurer, lunch with city and county officials, and breakout sessions to focus on specific aspects of community leadership. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers A group of more than 100 students gathered in Simi Valley last week to brainstorm ways to “Build a Better World,” the theme of this year’s Simi Valley Youth Council’s 2010 Youth Summit at Rancho Santa Susana Community Center.

But Kellee Eberle, a junior at Royal High School and leader of the summit, said that as the day went on the theme focused more on creating a tighter bond among members of the community.

“The focus really became about getting students at the different schools together and getting the community to come together,” Kellee said. “For example, the people on the Simi (Valley High School) side were saying they never come to the Royal (High School) side of town. We talked about having a kind of tri-committee for the three (major) high schools in Simi, organizing dances or picnics for a way to meet one another.”

TEAM EFFORT—At far left, students at the Simi Valley Youth Summit play a team-building game before focusing on the team’s topic, the environment, at the leadership summit last week. Above, Hannah Safford, 17, left, talks with her friend Sara Torres, 16, while they play another team game with Morgan Loss, 16. The summit was first organized in 2002 by the Simi Valley Youth Council. Any student who lives in Simi or attends school in Simi may attend. Kellee said it helped that they had “a really good variety of kids. It was really representative.”

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers The Youth Council Summit was open to high school students who live in or attend school in Simi Valley, so in addition to SVUSD students from Simi Valley, Royal, Santa Susanna and Apollo high schools, some attendees came from Grace Brethren, La Reina and Chaminade.

“In the end, it gave lot of kids the opportunity to voice their opinion,” Kellee said. “And they had the chance to let other kids know what they’re doing at their schools.”

About 110 students attended the daylong event last week, according to Samantha Argabrite, Simi Valley Youth Council coordinator.

The students were grouped by issues they were interested in discussing, including crime and gangs, the environment and school activities.

The groups initially made a list of “agreements,” which included keeping an open mind, meeting new people, listening respectfully and having fun while talking about their concerns.

The groups of about 15 students met in three different sessions, first taking part in games and icebreakers and then discussing their issues.

After a brainstorming session, the groups joined local dignitaries over pizza and talked about concerns and ideas for the community. Representatives from the city of Simi Valley, the Simi Valley Unified School District, the Simi Valley Police Department and others sat down for lunch with groups of students to answer questions and hear new ideas.

“We get a lot of kids who are already involved, and here they learn more about how the system works,” Argabrite said. “They talked about what they really want to see in their community, whether it’s more parkland or an Arby’s.”

“The summit is about empowering them and helping them understand that they have a voice and they have a say in things. We really appreciate hearing their perspectives,” added Argabrite, who works for the city

One group talked about the struggle to inspire students.

“I think we should talk about getting kids more encouraged in school,” said Michelle Goodwin, a senior at Royal. “It feels like everyone’s slowly dying down. No one wants to be at school. What can we do to get more people into school and more school spirit?”

Amanda Miller, a junior at SVHS, agreed.

“Kids aren’t motivated at school,” Amanda said. “I’m not sure exactly what to do about it.”

In Kellee’s group, which tackled environmental issues, students talked about the amount of electricity used in schools and discussed organizing a possible blackout day. When another team brainstormed community activities, they listed a miniature golf course, a billiards hall and a roller or ice rink as ideas.

Julianna Rote, a senior at Royal, led her group in a game where all students stood on a line and indicated their feelings on topics by stepping forward or backward. The questions ranged from, “Do you prefer sandals or boots?” to “Do you believe in gay marriage?” Students would step forward for one response and backward for the other, creating a visual representation of the varied beliefs of the students.

After controversial questions regarding abstinence, abortion and alcoholism, the students would debrief and talk about both sides, openly and with respect despite conflicting responses.

The group also heard from keynote speaker Patrick Maurer.

“He talked about getting involved in the community—being a superhero,” Argabrite said. “He was very inspiring and engaging.”

Kellee agreed.

“The speaker was really helpful,” she said. “The way he talked about his personal experience . . . it was a really good part of the day.”

After a day of discussing homeless food drives, drug awareness, city cleanups, solar energy, ways to tackle graffiti and other issues, Kellee considered the summit a success.

“I was always someone helping out, but this was my first time really taking a leadership position,” Kellee said. “I was nervous how it would go. But everyone I know who went had a really good time and a great experience. It was a really positive outcome.”

Rachael Friedman, a senior at Santa Susana High School, said she considered her experience at the youth summit valuable.

“We talked about community activities and activities for teenagers, and we got to tell the people who have the power to do something about them directly,” Friedman said of her time with the local dignitaries. “We also got to hear about stuff we wouldn’t normally be privileged to hear. And they were very receptive—some were even taking notes.”

The summit was first organized in 2002 by the Simi Valley Youth Council, which is made up of middle school and high school students who meet twice each month. There are currently 17 active members.

For more information or to fill out an application to join the council, visit www.ci.simivalley.ca.us.