Richmond youth will soon have the opportunity to learn how city hall works and debate issues they feel are important to them in a mock city council.
A proposal made in June, brought to council by a group of youth, has been tweaked and transformed into a program that will include education and mentorship.
Annie Lai was one of the main instigators of starting the program for youth and she said she’s happy with what staff created although it isn’t what she originally proposed. She said it will have elements that she thinks will teach youth about politics.
“I also wanted the education part and a hands-on-experience,” Lai said.
The program will be for 12 youth aged 15 to 23 and will take place three times a year in eight-week sessions – fall, winter and spring sessions.
Last Monday, council supported the staff proposal for the “Youth Civic Engagement Program.”
Coun. Michael Wolfe voted against the motion, however, saying he felt some young people who were in council chambers didn’t get an opportunity to speak about it because they didn’t know the process. Furthermore, he wanted more money invested into the youth program rather than it being done within the existing budget – the program won’t get any extra funding.
“Looking at a financial impact of ‘none,’ that says to me we’re not doing enough to get the youth engaged,” Wolfe said.
Lai said after the meeting, though, she hopes having a youth council will inspire other young people to get involved and engaged in politics.
She pointed out after bringing a group of peers to council in June to listen to discussions about the proposed youth city council, her peers started getting more interested in political decision-making and were highly involved in the federal campaign.
Lai would like more emphasis on the social sciences in education as she finds it can be a challenge to learn about the political system.
“It’s pretty difficult to be exposed to politics unless you go out of your way,” she said.
She believes social studies in school should be as important as math and science, adding the subject is “different but not of lesser value.”
