HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-13 YOUTH FORUM SUB COMMITTEE A
Caldwell Youth Forum Subcommitt to
Meeting Minutes 3/13/2018 rvM
Present: Ron Bonneau, Kaylee Farrell, Toni Brinegar, Kelly Emry, Geoff Starr, Angie
Point, Cindy Jordan, and Gem State students: Jillona Iwasa, Emelie Ingraham, Hope
Bollin, Allie Smith
Geoff made motion/Toni seconded the motion to approve minutes from January 9,
2018. Motion passed
Welcome to Cindy Jordan, who will be the liaison for both Vallivue Academy and
Canyon Springs High School. Cindy will attend planning meetings, and coordinate with
Kelly Culver (CSHS) and Eric Graves (VA) so that 5 students from each school have the
opportunity to attend the Forum.
Ron: welcome Gem State students: how has the forum impacted your school, and what
have you taken away from the Forum this past year?
Julie: Main goal was to be better leaders and spread kindness. We made kindness
tickets to give away when kindness was observed, and created a reward option for
when tickets are turned in. She found herself speaking out more in class and
intentionally trying to be a better leader, and working on better social skills. The
experience of the Forum helped her be intentional about kindness, about initiating
conversations with people, as well as giving her more confidence to be the leader.
"The Forum took me out of my comfort zone and made that ok."
Ron: Where do you see this going? Students: Be encouraging during announcements
time — a few games, maybe help inspire others to take the lead through devotions on
kindness. We need to learn to be good leaders, not just a bunch of leaders bumping
into each other all the time. Include others and do something interactive during chapel
time, or class meetings. We all liked that the morning activities seemed to emphasize
that cliques are not necessary—exclusiveness not necessary.
Geoff: What would you change? Students We all enjoyed meeting new people in new
ways with morning activities; this made a big impact. Lunch talk opened their eyes to
what other teens may be going through. Possible down side during discussion after
presentation: it's hard to have deep conversations with people you just met. Pretty
awkward.
Ron/Toni: We Choose All of Us: Coalition. Exploring whether there might be a place in
the Forum day for some aspect here — possibly make 'We Choose All of Us" a theme.
This coalition's focus is to make a place where people can come to start conversations
and come to an agreement—want kinder, more compassionate world. People looking
to seek out positivity in Idaho. Starting points; conversations to get to action, to get to
know each other. Not to agree 100%. T-shirts, stickers, posters available. "You have a
choice to be kind, to be hateful, to be loving. Choose NOT to be hateful. You have a
choice to go out of your comfort zone to help someone who is hurting. Ron and Toni
will meet with Kelly Miller to talk more about We Choose Us.
Kaylee: Kids say they want to know that they are safe at school — not just physically,
but emotionally as well. When asked "what do you need to feel safe?" Response:
connection to others —don't allow your friends to talk bad about someone. Making
kindness and consideration the standard.
Planning to launch soon; Toni will send out new links for the launch version of
everything. For possible Forum use: maybe blend this with final statement and
purpose. Why are we meeting each year.
Ron: How is the Forum meeting important in schools? Want to create an environment
where it is safe to learn. How do we create this environment? Foster a new attitude:
"somebody's got my back instead of stabbing me in the back". Then education
becomes a priority at school instead of surviving being the priority.
Kelly: VHS It's On Us Club intern came up with 4 ways to be a positive bystander
because kids wanted to have something tangible. Will be trying out one of them over
the next week, will share results at next meeting. They also started encouragement
cards during kindness week, and printed out a flyer: 'Random act of Kindness/50 tips
on Being Kind'. Students grabbed it up. The feeling is that the more we can train and
educate in concrete ways rather than just give fluff, the better. Want to get '50 Ways on
How to Support a Friend' for next meeting.
Ron: We want to give students not only permission to be a good bystander, but tools to
use that help.
Angie: This would be a good lunch project-4 ways to be a positive bystander.
Meeting adjourned at 11:20 am. Next meeting is on Tuesday, May 3, 2018 at Ridgevue
High School, 18800 Madison Rd, in Nampa
Respectfully submitted,
Angie Point