[1. Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP FOR THE CITY OF PARKLAND ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023, AT 6:00 P.M. TO ORDER. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE.
AND IF WE CAN GET OUR YOUTH AMBASSADORS TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.
ROLL CALL. >> COMMISSIONER ISRAEL.
>> VICE MAYOR BRIAR. >> MAYOR WALKER.
[4A. Youth Ambassador Program - Discussion of Youth Issues]
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA.
THE YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM DISCUSSION OF YOUTH ISSUES.
>> HI. >> IF YOU CAN SAY YOUR TITLE FOR
US THREE TIMES. >> OH, I'LL TRY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.
TONIGHT WE HAVE OUR YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM HERE, OUR INAUGURAL GROUP AND THEY'RE HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUTH ISSUES. WE HAVE BEEN EXPOSING THEM TO ALL DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY TELLING THEM ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE CITY BUT TONIGHT IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO TALK TO YOU. THEY'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RESEARCH THEY DID WITH THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS AND LITTLE BIT MAYBE ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE THINGS THAT AS A COMMISSION IN A CITY ESPECIALLY THE CITY OF PARKLAND THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT.
SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO FIRST IS ALLOW THEM TO EACH COME UP AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TELL YOU WHAT THEIR ROLE IS IN THE PROGRAM AND THEN WE'LL GET STARTED.
>> AND THE YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IS FOR STUDENTS FROM
NINTH TO -- WHAT IS THE -- >> ALL OF OUR YOUTH AMBASSADORS ARE IN 11TH GRADE AND THEY ARE PARKLAND RESIDENTS SO ACTUALLY OUR FIVE YOUTH AMBASSADORS GO TO THREE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS BUT THEY
ARE ALL PARKLAND RESIDENTS. >> OKAY.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. I'M THE TREASURER FOR THE
PARKLANG YOUTH AMBASSADOR. >> WHAT SCHOOL?
>> I ATTEND MARJORIE STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL.
>> I'M MACY NIECE. I'M THE RECORDING SECRETARY AND I ATTEND MARJORIE STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M COORDINATOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND I ATTEND ST. THOMAS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M CHARLOTTE CANTOR.
I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT AND I ATTEND NORTH BROWARD PREPTORY
I'M ANGELINA KENNEDY AND I'M PRESIDENT AND ATTEND MARJORIE STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL. WE ARE THE YOUTH AMBASSADORS AND WE ARE BASICALLY A LIAISON AND VOICE FOR THE YOUTH OF PARKLANG.
WE CREATED A GOOGLE FORM FOR THE YOUTH TO COMMUNICATE THEIR
CONCERNS. >> AS YOU ALL KNOW WE CREATED A SURVEY FOR THE PARKLANG YOUTH. WE PUT THIS SURVEY ON A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS INCLUDING SCHOOL PLATFORMS AS WELL AS SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE WANTED TO FILTER RESPONSES TO THOSE PARTICULARLY -- FOR THOSE PARTICULARLY IN PARKLANG.
SO OUR FIRST QUESTION WAS ARE YOU A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF PARKLANG. THEN WE ASKED WHAT THEIR GRADE LEVEL WAS AND HOW FAMILIAR THEY WERE WITH PARKLAND LOCAL GVERNMENT. AFTERWARDS WE ASKED WHAT ISSUES MOST CONCERNED THEM AND PROVIDED THEM WITH A LIST OF ISSUES AS WELL AS ANOTHER OPTION SO THAT THEY COULD TAPE IN AN ADDITIONAL ISSUE OR TWO IF THEY FELT THE NEED TO NATURALLY TO DIG DEEPER WE ADDED QUESTIONS SUCH AS WHAT ISSUES MOST CONCERNED THEM AND HOW THE CITY OF PARKLAND CAN WORK TO FIX THOSE ISSUES JUST SO WE CAN GET THE MAXIMUM INPUT. LASTLY WE ASKED IF THEY HAD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
WE HAD AROUND 30 RESPONSES. THANK YOU.
>> SO WITH OUR SURVEY WE ASKED HOW FAMILIAR IS THE YOUTH OF PARKLAND WITH PARKLAND'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND AFTER ASKING THIS QUESTION OVER HALF RESPONDED THAT THEY ARE NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND OUR DATA SHOWS THAT THIS GRAF IS SKEWED RIGHT. WITH THIS WE REALIZE HOW OUT OF THE LOOP OUR YOUTH IS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AFTER HAVING SPOKEN
[00:05:03]
WITH STUDENTS WE REALIZED THAT IN SCHOOLS, WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SO I BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AND I THINK THAT MORE ADVOCATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND MORE LESSONS AND EDUCATION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO PARKLANDS YOUTH.>> WITH THE DATA WE CREATED A PIE CHART TO SHOW STATISTICS ON WHAT SPECIFIC ISSUES STUDENTS WERE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT AND THE TOP TWO WERE SCHOOL SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.
AND WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE THAT THESE TWO ARE TIE IN HEAVILY TOGETHER. COMING IN AFTER THOSE WERE DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE TYING BACK TO THAT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IN SCHOOL SAFETY. THINGS LIKE ADDICTION AND BULLYING AND CYBER BULLYING AS WELL AS ROAD SAFETY.
TO THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED.
SO WE ASKED EACH STUDENT TO ANSWER WHY THESE ISSUES CONCERNED THEM. I'M SURE AS YOU'VE HEARD THESE ISSUES WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT CONCERN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM BUT THE THREE THAT ARE SPECIFIED HERE, SCHOOL SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE WERE THE MOST PROM UNDERSTAND RESPONSES OF OUR PEERS. I WOULD LIKE TO READ YOU A FEW QUOTES FROM THE SURVEY THAT EXPLAIN WHY SOME STUDENTS THOSE THOSE ISSUES. IN REGARD TO SCHOOL SAFETY ONE STUDENT WROTE WE JUST WENT THROUGH AN EVENT AT SCHOOL IN WHICH THERE WAS A STUDENT RUNNING FROM A SECURITY GUARD LEADING TO AN ADD ADMINISTRATOR SCREAMING CODE RED.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL. IT SCARED MANY STUDENTS AND BROUGHT BECOME MEMORIES. I FEEL LIKE CONSIDERING THE -- WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND WHY THIS INDIVIDUAL WOULD FIND THIS ALARMING. ANOTHER RESPONSE STATED CONSIDER THE NEWING OF MASS SHOOTINGS IN SCHOOLS RESULTING IN INJURIES OR DEATH IN JUST 2022 ALEAN I'M SURE -- WITH THE RECENT LOCKDOWN THAT HAPPENED IT REALLY OPENED UP MY EYES TO REALIZE THIS IS A REAL THING HAPPENING. PEOPLE WERE TERRIFIED, CRYING, PANICKING WHEN THE INTERCOM CAME ON ANNOUNCING THERE WAS A LOCKDOWN. AT THAT MOMENT I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE. THIS FEELING OF BEING SCARED TO DIE IS NOT OKAY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND DONE SOON.
I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE ONE LINE THAT WAS SAID, THE FEELING OF BEING SCARED IN A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FEEL SAFE.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A FEW OF MY FELLOW YOUTH AMBASSADORS THAT THE LOCKDOWN THAT OCCURRED TODAY AT MSD CERTAINLY IS TROUBLING AND HARD EXPERIENCE FOR THEM TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH. AND THAT CERTAINLY CONNECTS TO WHY THIS ISSUE OF SCHOOL SAFETY WOULD BE CONCERNING TO THE YOUTH OF OUR CITY. ON THE SUBJECT OF MENTAL HEALTH, ONE TEENAGER WROTE THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE OF THE COMPETITIVENESS AROUND US ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOL, GETTING INTO COLLEGE, ET CETERA. MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL IS RECOGNIZED BUT NOT TO ITS FULLEST EXTENT AND I FEEL MANY STUDENTS STILL STRUGGLE. FINALLY A STUDENT SAID THIS -- CHILDREN SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF USING DRUGS ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY HAVE THEIR WHOLE LIVES AHEAD OF THEM.
THESE WERE ONLY FOUR OF THE WRITTEN RESPONSES WE RECEIVED BUT WE FELT THEY GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHY THESE REASONS -- THE REASONS WHY THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES WERE EXTREMELY UNSETTLING TO THE YOUTH OF OUR CITY.
WE NEXT ASKED THE YOUTH WHAT CAN WE DO TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES THEY'RE FACED WITH AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE QUOTES WE GOT FROM THEM. THE CITY OF PARKLAND CAN HAVE ASSEMBLIES ON MENTAL HEALTH TO RAISE AWARENESS, ADVOCATE FOR HOW TEACHERS CAN SUPPORT TEACHERS EVERY DAY AND FOR STUDENTS TO MANAGE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH TOO LIKE THE RECENT VAPING MEETING WE HAD WITH THE YOUTH.
PARKLAND SHOULD CREATE MORE PROGRAMS WHICH MAY HELP COPE WITH ADDICTION WHILE MORE FREELY PUBLICIZING THESE PROGRAMS AND FRAMING IT POSITIVELY TO COMING FORWARD AND ADMITTING THESE ISSUES AND CODE REDS ARE EXTREMELY DISTRESSING FOR ANYONE ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING IN THE PAST.
WE NEED BETTER DRILL SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT FOR OUR TEACHERS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK -- FOR THE WAY SHE HANDLED OUR SITUATION TODAY. I KNOW SHE DID A VERY GOOD JOB AT KEEPING OUR STUDENTS CALM AND IN A VERY CALM MANNER.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FOR THAT.
OFFER MORE GUEST SPEAKERS WHO WILL ACTUALLY GET THROUGH TO THESE KIDS AND UNDERSTAND THAT STUDENTS REALLY NEED BREAKS.
THE YOUTH AMBASSADORS WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSION ON
[00:10:01]
BEHALF OF THE YOUTH FOR LISTENING TO US VOICE OUR CONCERNS. DO YOU WANT TO JOIN ME FOR QUESTIONS IF THE COMMISSION HAS IN?>> SO -- ANY? >> SO I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES ALL FEEL THE SAME. WELL DONE ON THIS PRESENTATION.
[APPLAUSE] WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN GOING THROUGH THESE QUESTIONS AND REACHING OUT TO YOUR PEERS. GETTING THE RESPONSES IS ALWAYS GREAT. SO I THINK YOU SAID THERE WERE 70 RESPONSES SO LEST SAY FOR YOUR FIRST SURVEY THAT'S A GREAT RESPONSE RATE. SO WELL DONE ON THAT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY -- >> I'M GOING TO ECHO THE MAYOR.
FOIRS AFTER YOU ALL, GREAT WORK, GUYS.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT NOT JUST BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE IDENTIFYING BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE AS MUCH VISIBILITY INTO ASIDE FROM MAYBE OUR OWN CHILDREN WHICH MAY VARY IN AGE GROUP TO IDENTIFY THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE EXPERIENCING OR YOUR PEERS ARE EXPERIENCING SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT SO THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK.
IT'S TRULY APPRECIATED. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. FIRST ONE I'LL ASK IS HOW DID YOU GUYS AGREE ORIGINALLY ON THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED AS THE PRELIMINARY ISSUES TO BE POLLED ON? DID YOU GUYS WORK TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH IT AMONGST
YOURSELVES? >> WE HAD A MEETING WHERE WE DECIDED WHAT WE WOULD PUT ON THE GOOGLE FORM AND THOUGHT THESE ISSUES WERE ALL PRESSING MATTERS TO US AS INDIVIDUALS AND BEFORE HAVING THE MEETING WE ALSO TALKED TO OUR PEERS, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN THE CITY OF PARKLAND AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT MOST OF THE ISSUES WERE IN THE CITY OF PARKLAND FOR THE YOUTH SO ONCE WE DECIDED THAT, WE USED THOSE ISSUES AND THEN WE ALSO DECIDED TO PUT AN OTHER SELECTION IN CASE THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THESE ARE THAT WE PRESENTED.
THEY COULD INPUT THEIR OWN ISSUES.
>> VERY GOOD. OKAY. THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IS -- WELL, POLITICS IN SCHOOL. WHEN YOU SAY POLITICS IN SCHOOL YOU'RE SAYING THE ACTUAL STUDENT BODY ELECTION AND THOSE THINGS OR MORE POLITICS IN KIND OF HOW STUDENTS INTERACT WITH ONE
ANOTHER? >> I THINK WE MEANT POLITICS IN TEACHING U.S. GOVERNMENT AND CIVICS SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS AND WE LEARN ABOUT THOSE SUBJECTS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT FEDERAL RATHER THAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THEY DO MENTION IT BUT IT'S NOT TOUCHED ON AS MUCH AS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> UNDERSTOOD. AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POINT AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOMETIMES OUR KIND OF CITY GOVERNMENT DAY WHERE WE WENT AND TODD I KNOW PREPARED A VIDEO BUT ALSO I THINK THE CITY COULD PUT SOMETHING MORE ROBUST ON OUR WEBSITE FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE OF THE NUANCE.
THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. DID THE SURVEY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WHAT SCHOOL THE RESPONDENTS WENT TO?
>> NO. WE JUST ASKED WHAT GLADE LEVEL THEY WERE IN AND EVERYTHING WAS ANONYMOUS BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT ANYONE FEELING THREATENED FOR ADMITTING ANYTHING ON OUR SURVEY SO EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS OTHER THAN IF THEY WERE A RESIDENT IN PARKLAND AND WHAT GRADE LEVEL
THEY WERE IN. >> I THINK WE ALSO ALL AGREED THAT WE WANT TO COME TOGETHER AS THE YOUTH OF PARKLAND RATHER THAN THE YOUTH FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
>> DEFINITELY AGREE. THE ONLY REASON FOR MY QUESTION IS BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THE CODE RED AND THE LOCKDOWN AT MSD WHICH I STILL WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT'S HARDER FOR US TO KIND OF GET TO IS WHETHER OR NOT STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS OTHER THAN MSD HAVE THE SAME DEGREE OF SCHOOL SAFETY CONCERNS OR IF IT'S REALLY SOMEWHAT MORE ESCALATED AND ELEVATED AT MSD OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
THAT'S A GREAT KIND OF YOU'VE HIT ON SOMETHING BIG ALREADY ON THE SCHOOL SAFETY ISSUE IN AND OF ITSELF AND I THINK WE CAN DELVE MORE INTO IT TO UNDERSTAND HOW MAYBE THERE'S AN APPROACH THAT COULD BE TAYLORED SPECIFICALLY TO SCHOOLS BASED ON THE TEACHER AT MSD SCREAMING CODE RED TO A STUDENT RUNNING DOWN THE HALLWAY MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE IN ANY SCHOOL BUT ESPECIALLY AT MSD. I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD
FINDING AS WELL. >> COMMISSIONER CUTLER.
>> I WAS ENJOYING THE QUESTIONS. >> I'M SORRY.
>> I THINK THE COMMENTS WERE VERY ON POINT.
>> CONTINUE ON. >> I JUST HAVE A COUPLE MORE.
DON'T WORRY. I THINK THIS IS INTERESTING STUFF AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A JUMPING OFF POINT SO I THINK THERE'S KIND OF WAYS TO GO FROM HERE. THE MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT ONE OF THE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT IT'S TIED TO STRESS AND I WONDER IF BECAUSE THERE'S A MENTAL HEALTH AND THEN ALSO A SCHOOL SAFETY TOPIC WHETHER OR NOT YOU GUYS BELIEVE THAT THE STUDENTS IDENTIFYING MENTAL HEALTH AS AN ISSUE WAS TIED TO SCHOOL SAFETY OR IF IT WAS MORE IN LINE WITH STRESS
[00:15:01]
DEALING WITH SCHOOLS DRATS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.>> I MEAN, I CAN SAY FOR ALL OF US HERE WE'RE INSANELY STRESSED WITH SCHOOL AND TRYING TO GET INTO COLLEGES BUT THERE ALSO IS THAT STRESS LEVEL OF ARE WE SAFE IN SCHOOL, WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, I COULD SAY I WAS EXTREMELY STRESSED TODAY WHILE ON A SECURE CODE SO I THINK BOTH FACTORS TIE INTO IT WHETHER IT'S THE STRESS LEVEL BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING AT SCHOOL OR YOUR OWN PERSONAL LIFE OR IF IT'S IN SCHOOL RELATED SCHOOL SAFETY RELATED.
SO MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ADD AS ANOTHER THING SO THAT WE COULD -- IT'S BECAUSE OF SCHOOL SAFETY OR BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND GETTING INTO COLLEGE SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ASK OUR YOUTH BUT I THINK FOR THE MAJORITY READING WHAT THEY SAID IN THEIR QUOTES AND WHAT THEY HAD WRITTEN DOWN MAJORITY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH WAS BECAUSE WE'RE JUST EXHAUSTED. WE'RE STRESSED WITH SCHOOL AND IT'S OVERBEARING SO THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF WHAT THE MENTAL
HEALTH RESPONSES WERE. >> I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I THINK IF WE PROBABLY DIG IN DEEPER WE'D FIND SOME OF THE ALCOHOL AND ADDICTION OR ABUSE ISSUES MAY ALSO BE SOMEWHAT TIED TO THAT SO, AGAIN, VERY INTERESTING FINDING.
THE LAST THING I HAVE IS MORE OF KIND OF A SUGGESTION OF THE CITY. SIMILAR TO WHAT PROGRAMS USED TO HAVE IN CITIES FOR KIND OF A GUN EXCHANGE THEY WOULD USE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET PEOPLE WITH GUNS TURN THEM IN AND EITHER GIVE THEM SOMETHING IN RETURN OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
I THINK MAYBE WE CONSIDER SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES FOR VAPING THAT IF STUDENTS COME AND TURN IN THEIR VAPE WHATEVER IT IS, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN KIND OF HELP THEM EITHER GET INFORMATION OR HELP TREATMENT OR SOME WHATEVER SMALL SOMETHING TO GIVE IN EXCHANGE BUT I THINK, AGAIN, AWESOME WORK, GUYS.
THIS IS GOOD STUFF. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER CUTLER.
>> THANK YOU. GREAT JOB, GUYS.
I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TOO. COMMISSIONER ISRAEL POINTED OUT THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE CITY DOES.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THE BREAKDOWN ON WHO RESPONDED AND WHAT -- WAS IT ONLY HIGH SCHOOL THAT YOU PUT THIS OUT TO OR WERE THE MIDDLE AND ELEMENT SCHOOLS INVOLVED IN THE SURVEY
PROCESS AS WELL? >> SO WE POSTED THIS SURVEY ON A PLATFORM CALLED CANVAS WHICH IS WHAT ALL BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOLS USE BUT WE ONLY POSTED IT ON THE ONE STONEMAN DOUGLAS HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU POSTED IT ELSEWHERE.
>> FOR ST. THOMAS WE ALSO USE CANVAS SO IT WAS POSTED TO THE ST. THOMAS CANVAS SO IT WAS ONLY REACHING GRADES 9 THROUGH
12 FOR US. >> AND DO WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN ON THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO RESPONDED, NINTH, TENTH, 11TH,
12TH GRADE? >> IT WAS A MAJORITY 75% LIKE -- WELL, EVERYTHING WAS ALMOST THE SAME.
25, 25, 25. BUT WE DID HAVE A LITTLE LESS 12TH GRADERS RESPONDING OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE VERY STRESSED.
SENIORITIS ALSO. WE HAD ALMOST THE EXACT SAME BUT A LITTLE LESS 12G9 GRADERS RESPONDING.
>> AT MSD, ST. THOMAS. DID YOU DO IT AT YOUR SCHOOL AS
I ATTEND NORTH BROWARD AND IT WAS NOT ON CANVAS BUT OUR COLLEGE ADVISING SENT IT TO THE ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL.
>> YOU'RE SAYING THAT OF THE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT IT WENT OUT TO 70 STUDENTS RESPONDED? SO WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH STUFF AND I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS PUT TOGETHER LIKE -- YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE GONE YESTERDAY OVER TO EAGLES HAVEN TO SOME OF THE CEREMONIAL THINGS THAT THEY DID.
IS THE MESSAGE OF EAGLES HAVEN AND WHAT IT'S THERE FOR AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH STUFF THAT THEY'RE DOING IS THAT MESSAGE NOT REACHING YOU AS STUDENTS AT
THE SCHOOL? >> I CANNOT SPEAK FOR DOUGLAS BUT I KNOW THAT FOR MANY OF US WHO LIVE IN PARKLAND WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF PARKLAND, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT THOSE ACCOMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE. AND SOMETIMES I THINK LIKE THAT REACHING OUT FOR HELP THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOT -- WE'RE NOT HAD PROMOTED TO SEEK THAT HELP PAND REACH OUT FOR IT IF WE NEE IT. IT COULD BE HARD TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO HELP US. >> YOU'RE SAYING THAT AT YOUR SCHOOL, THEY'RE NOT PROMOTING YOUR NEED OR DESIRE TO REACH OUT, THEY'RE NOT GIVING YOU WAYS TO DO THAT AT YOUR SCHOOL?
>> THEY DO HAVE SUPPORT SYSTEMS ABSOLUTELY AND AMAZING COUNSELORS BUT I WOULD NOT SAY THAT IT IS HEAVILY ADVOCATED.
[00:20:05]
I WOULD NOT SAY IT WAS HEAVILY ADVOCATED.>> OKAY. OKAY. I'M CURIOUS AT MSD SAME QUESTION, IS -- I MEAN, UP HERE WE HEAR ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
YOU KNOW. EAGLES HAVEN AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS. JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME WE HAVE A COMMISSION MEETING ONE OF US SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE AWARENESS OF COUNSELORS AND REACHING OUT AND 211 AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. I JUST -- MAYBE OUR MESSAGE IS NOT BEING HEARD BY THE YOUTH BECAUSE NOBODY IS TUNING INTO THESE WONDERFULLY STIMULATING COMMISSION MEETINGS BUT MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF HOW TO OUTREACH TO THE KIDS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE THAT WE'RE MISSING.
MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON.
>> YEAH. I KNOW DOUGLAS HAS ABAMAZING WELLNESS CENTER AND WE DO ADVOCATE FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH A LOT BUT WE DON'T HEAR IT AS MUCH RECENTLY.
I KNOW DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THAT'S WHEN IT'S HEAVILY THROWN UPON US LIKE IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GETTING THE SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT WE NEED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DETERRED FROM COMING TO THE WELLNESS CENTER BECAUSE THERE'S A PRIVACY ISSUE WHERE WE CAN'T DO, THEY'LL TELL OUR PARENTS, I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO TALK TO. I DON'T WANT MY PARENTS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS. SO A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO NEED THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS AREN'T GOING TO THE SYSTEMS PROVIDED BECAUSE OF THE PRIVACY ISSUES. AND I THINK EVEN ASIDE FROM THE PRIVACY ISSUES IT'S THE FACT THAT SOME STUDENTS ARE IN THE MINDSET THAT THEY'RE BEYOND HELP AND DON'T REALIZE WHAT THESE RESOURCES HAVE TO OFFER FOR THEM SO MAYBE EAGLES HAVEN COULD DO A HIGH SCHOOL NIGHT AND IT'S SAD TO SAY BUT I ALMOST FEEL LIKE THE STUDENTS FEEL THEY NEED AN INCENTIVE TO GO BECAUSE PERSONALLY I DON'T THINK FOR THOSE STRUGGLING MENTALLY THEY THINK THEY'RE BEYOND HELP AND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY HELP THEM. I KNOW A LOT OF US CANNOT BE OPEN MINDED ABOUT IT WHEN YOU'RE STUCK IN THAT STATE.
YOU'RE THINKING I CAN'T GET OUT THIS IS JUST WHO I AM I'M BEYOND HELP. I THINK WE NEED TO PUSH FOR STUDENTS TO GO TO COUNSELORS AND EAGLES HAVEN BUT I THINK IT'S SAD TO SAY WE NEED TO OFFER AN INCENTIVE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
>> WHAT IS THAT INCENTIVE? I MEAN, YOU'RE A KID IN HIGH SCHOOL. WHAT WOULD INSENT VISE YOU TO GO
TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> MAYBE SERVICE HOURS OR EXTRA CREDIT. I THINK GENERALLY SERVICE HOURS
AND EXTRA CREDIT FOR CLASS. >> AS I'VE ALREADY SAID I DON'T GO TO DOUGLAS BUT I DID ATTEND WEST GLADES SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING. NORTH BROWARD IS EXTREMELY CLOSE OBVIOUSLY TO PARKLAND. I LIVE IN PINE STREW ESTATES ON THE SIDE STREETS AND I LIVE FIVE MINUTES FROM SCHOOL.
IT'S GREAT. BUT I DON'T THINK THERE HAS BEEN A SINGLE MENTION OF ANY SUPPORT SYSTEMS HAVING TO DO WITH THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE EVENTS YESTERDAY AT MY SCHOOL.
I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH MY FRIEND WHO ALSO LIVES IN PARKLAND ABOUT IT ON MONDAY AND WE WERE SAYING HOW CONCERNING WE FOUND IT AND HOW DISTRESSING IT WAS TO US THAT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF IT. OUR SCHOOL WASN'T ACKNOWLEDGING IT. WHEN SUCH A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF NORTH BROWARDS POPULATION IS FROM PARKLAND BECAUSE OF HOW
CLOSE IT IS. >> HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS FOLLOW PARKLAND'S FACEBOOK PAGE? OKAY. THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS FOR US WE SOMETIMES MAYBE MAKE ASSUMPTIONS AS HOW OUR INFORMATION IS GETTING DISSEMINATED AND I THINK MAYBE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR ALSO FROM THE YOUTH WHO SOMETIMES USE IT THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS OF WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY REACHING AND MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY THROUGH THE SCHOOL BUT THE CITY ITSELF SO I THINK THAT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT PART FOR US TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW WE ALSO ENGAGE WITH YOU ALL AND YOUR PEERS AND IT MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM HOW WE ENGAGE FROM THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.
>> LIKE A SNAPCHAT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WOULD THAT REACH YOU BETTER THAN SAY THE OLD-TIME FACEBOOK STUFF?
I WAS ABOUT TO SAY I DON'T HAVE A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT.
I'M 17. THAT'S MY PLAN FOR WHEN I'M TRYING TO FIND A ROOMMATE FOR COLLEGE I'LL MAKE A FACEBOOK SO I CAN GO INTO SOME GROUPS SO I FEEL MAYBE SOME DIFFERENT METHODS OF REACHING THE YOUTH OF THE CITY COULD BE EXPLORED.
>> HOW MANY OF YOU WERE IN FIFTH GRADE IN PARKLAND? HOW MANY OF YOU CAME TO GOVERNMENT DAY DURING THAT FIFTH
GRADE TIMEFRAME? >> THIRD GRADE?
[00:25:01]
>> THIRD GRADE. >> HOW MANY OF YOU -- I THOUGHT
IT WAS FIFTH. >> BY THE TIME THEY GET TO --
>> THAT'S THE POINT. WE DO A GOVERNMENT DAY FOR THIRD GRADERS AND THE ELEMENT SCHOOL KIDS COME OVER IN THIRD GRADE AND LEARN ALL ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
I KNOW I'VE BEEN TO AT LEAST TWO OR THREE OF THOSE WHERE THE KIDS CAME IN AND PACKED THIS ROOM AND THEY LEARNED ALL ABOUT THE CITY AND HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKS AND EVERYTHING BUT BY THE TIME YOU HIT HIGH SCHOOL YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL OF THAT STUFF.
>> I MEAN THAT -- THERE'S A LOT OF PARENTS WHO HAVE -- DON'T KNOW MUCH WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES.
SO WE HEAR THAT DAILY WHEN PEOPLE SAY HEY HOW COME THE MAYOR CANNOT DO THIS. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? SO MAYBE WE NEED AN OUTREACH AND A HIGHER LEVEL OF EDUCATION MAYBE TO SORT OF BEEF UP THAT KNOWLEDGE BASE.
AND GET THAT OUT. SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY THAT WE COULD TALK WITH LORI ABOUT OUR SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.
>> KNOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENT WE DON'T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF SCHOOL POLICY AND WHAT HAPPENS AT THE SCHOOLS.
SO OUR OBJECTIVE AND MISSION WOULD BE TO ADVOCATE OR DISCUSS ISSUES WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO TRY TO GET THEM TO IMPLEMENT DIFFERENT WHETHER IT'S THE CODE RED, HEALTH AND WELLNESS AT THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE COULD DO SO MUCH AT A CITY LEVEL FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS BUT IT NEEDS TO REALLY BE PROMOTED AT THE SCHOOL IN MY OPINION TO HAVE IT -- THERE'S A STIGMA. AND IT'S THE SAME WAY FOR ADULTS. MENTAL HEALTH IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT PEOPLE FEEL IT'S FINE IT'S GOING AWAY.
BUT MENTAL HEALTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO EITHER. BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK ON THE SCHOOL LEVEL IT'S MUCH BETTER REACHED TO YOU FOLKS THROUGH THAT MECHANISM NOT THAT WE CAN'T HELP AND ADVOCATE THROUGH THE CITY BUT WE NEED TO STRESS TO THE SCHOOL THAT THEY NEED TO DO MORE AND OBVIOUSLY WILL HELP IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN BUT THAT'S WHAT --
>> I MEAN JUST ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST ON THE TOPIC OF KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO PARKLAND.
IT'S UNIQUE -- IT'S PROBABLY REASONABLY PRUDENT PERSON -- IT SPREADS OVER BROWARD COUNTY AND PROBABLY THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE COUNTRY. AS A MEMBER OF THE BROWARD LEAGUE OF CITIES, I SIT ON THE YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED IN THE INTERVIEWS, TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND MOST OF THE RESPONSES ARE WELL I WENT TO THE COMMISSION MEETING AND I'VE GOT AWARDED SOMETHING FOR PLAYING A SPORT BUT THAT'S ALL I KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO OR HOW THEY INTERACT. THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THESE ARE STUDENTS THAT ARE APPLYING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP THAT'S BASED ON GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE AND THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. >> THAT'S A TRICK.
WHEN YOU GUYS APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE BROWARD LEAGUE OF CITIES MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES AND YOU'LL BE TWO STEPS AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> AND IF YOU -- >> WORKS EVERY TIME.
>> BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AND I KNOW THAT THE -- AND I GUESS I'LL CALL IT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES DOES EDUCATION FOR COMMISSIONERS.
BUT THEY DON'T DO EDUCATION FOR YOUTH.
THEY DO HAVE A YOUTH PROGRAM AND -- TODD, THEY DO SOME VIDEOS AND OTHER STUFF WHICH I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY AND POSSIBLY WORK WITH THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET IN TOUCH OR DEVELOP A CURRICULUM FOR SPECIFICALLY YOUTH AND MAYBE TIE THAT INTO SOME SORT OF STATE SYSTEM TO GET YOU ADDITIONAL COLLEGE CREDIT.
I KNOW THAT I'VE DISCUSSED FUTURE YOUTH AMBASSADORS ABOUT POSSIBLY GETTING COLLEGE CREDIT BUT IT INVOLVES TRYING TO MIRROR A CURRICULUM THAT A COLLEGE CURRENTLY HAS AS OPPOSED TO DEVELOPING IT FROM SCRATCH BECAUSE THAT'S A HEAVIER LIFT.
AS FAR AS COMMUNICATION REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH, YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT 211 IS? WHO DOESN'T? DON'T BE AFRAID IF YOU DON'T. SO YOU ALL KNOW WHAT 211 IS? YOU ALL HAVE A PHONE? YOU HAVE THE 211 APP? NO. SO DOWNLOAD THE APP ON YOUR PHONE AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH N THE MENTAL HEALTH ARENA.
YOU TALK TO A COUNSELOR, YOU'RE ANONYMOUS.
[00:30:01]
THEY RECOMMEND THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO OR IF YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED THEY WILL CONTINUE TO CALL YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AND GET THE SERVICES AND SPRINKLE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED.YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOUR FRIENDSES AND SCHOOL AND CLASSES AND HOWEVER YOU NEED TO DO THAT. OBVIOUSLYING DISCUSSION WITH EAGLES HAVEN. THERE'S A LOT OF EVEN I KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL HAS COUNSELORS THAT THEY PROVIDE FOR FAMILIES AS WELL AS FOR STUDENTS. THAT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY.
AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE MAY FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE AND HAVE THAT STIGMA OF I'M GOING FOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT FAMILIES CAN BE INVOLVED IN AS WELL SO MAYBE IT'S SOMEBODY THINKS IT'S MORE OF A MEETING THAT YOU'RE HAVING.
SO THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME JUST THINK THE ISSUE IS GETTING OUT THE INFORMATION MORE SO THAN BEING AWARE OF WHAT'S OUT THERE. YOU GUYS AS YOUTH AMBASSADORS CAN BE THE LEADERS TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.
SHARE IT LIKE IT, SEND IT. I KNOW YOU DON'T GO ON FACEBOOK BUT WHATEVER ELSE IT IS THERE'S DEFINITELY WAYS TO DO THAT.
ALONG THOSE LINES IF YOU DON'T MIND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE EITHER THIS GROUP OR THE NEXT GROUP OF AMBASSADORS MAYBE TAKE THAT ON AS A TASK TO PUT TOGETHER A VIDEO OR SOMETHING AS A YOUTH GROUP THAT YOU CAN SHOW TO THE KIDS AT SCHOOL AND TALK ABOUT WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS. YOU KNOW.
TEACH THEM IN YOUR OWN WAY WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT DOES LOCALLY SO THAT MAYBE THAT'S THE NEXT THING THAT WE DO WITH THE AMBASSADORS.
>> I THINK JUST ON THAT I THINK ANY ONE OF US UP HERE WOULD BE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME TO A CIVICS CLASS, GOVERNMENT STUDIES CLASS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE CITY DOES AND WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WOULD SHY AWAY FROM THAT. TO CERTAINLY HELP IN SUPPORT IN LETTING THE YOUTH KNOW HOW IMPORTANT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS AND THAT'S ARE WHERE THINGS HAPPEN.
WHEN YOU HAVE AN ISSUE YOU'RE COMING TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TALLAHASSEE. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WASHINGTON D.C. YOU'RE COMING HERE AND SAYING STANDING AMONGST THE PODIUM SAYING I GOT A PROBLEM. HOW CAN YOU HELP? SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY PARTICIPATE IN AND WORK WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
WORK WITH EVEN THE PRINCIPAL OR WHOEVER IS TEACHING CIVICS, SOCIAL STUDIES, GET IN AND HELP AND WORK THAT THROUGH DIFFERENT CLASSES AND WHATEVER IT MAY BE. THE OTHER THING THAT I MIGHT SUGGEST AS WELL IS LOOK BROADLY ON DATA AT THIS TIME KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, LOOKING AT THINGS WHEN I SAY BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
SO CIVIL CITATION. HOW MANY -- WHICH IS A DEFERMENT TO ARREST PROGRAM. WHAT THE MAIN ISSUES OF THAT ARE. IS BATTERY A BIG ISSUE.
IS STEALING A BIG ISSUE. ONE OF THOSE THINGS CAN GIVE YOU A BAROMETER ON WHERE THINGS ARE AT IN PARKLAND.
WE GET A REPORT FROM 211, A QUARTERLY REPORT, THAT TELLS YOU WHAT THE CALLS ARE. DOESN'T NECESSARILY TELL YOU THE ISSUES BUT, FLEX, ONE -- FOR EXAMPLE, ONE MAY BE PEOPLE CALLING UP ABOUT SUICIDE. THE NEXT QUARTER MAYBE MENTAL HEALTH. NEXT QUARTER MAYBE HOMELESSNESS SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO GET AHOLD OF AT LEAST TO SEE WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE ALL ISSUES IN GENERAL.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SPECIFIC TO YOUTH BUT GET AN IDEA OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY AS WELL. BUT, AGAIN, GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. LOOKING AT YOU ALL MEETING YOU BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED I WAS SMILING BUT AFTER YOU STARTED TALKING IT'S JUST SO SAD THAT WE AS A SOCIETY INCLUDING THE A ADULTS DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES DAILY.
WHAT IS ALSO AMAZING TO ME IS THE MAYOR SAID YOU KNOW YES THERE'S A STIGMA WITH MENTAL HEALTH BUT I THINK YOUR GENERATION IS STARTING TO ERODE THAT STIGMA.
AND THE NOTION THAT WE HAD 32.9% OF THESE RESPONDENTS WERE ALL HIGH SCHOOL KIDS SAYING MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ISSUE HERE TO ME IS BOTH SAD AND PROMISING. RIGHT.
IT'S SAD THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES AND PROMISING THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY CONNECTED WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WHETHER IT'S SCHOOL SAFETY, STRESS, I DON'T REMEMBER MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS BEING AS STRESSFUL AS YOURS. IT WAS NOT AS COMPETITIVE.
PEOPLE WENT TO GOOD COLLEGES BUT IT WAS NOT AN ARMS RACE WHICH IT IS NOW. IT'S NEVER ENOUGH TO COMPETE WITH THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU. I GET THAT.
[00:35:02]
LET ME FIRST SAY YOU'RE ALL AMAZING KIDS WHEREVER YOU WIND UP IN COLLEGE YOU'RE GOING TO DO AMAZING.AMAZING. I'M IN A LAW FIRM WITH 800 LAWYERS SOME OF WHOM HAVE GONE TO HARVARD AND SOME WHO HAVE GONE TO THE EQUIVALENT OF BCC AND THEY'RE ALL IN THE SAME FIRM SO YOU'RE GOING TO DO AMAZING REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU GO AND I WISH ALL STUDENTS KNEW THAT BECAUSE THE PRESSURE IS SO INTENSE HAVING COME THROUGH IT WITH MY TWO DAUGHTERS RECENTLY.
THE PRESSURE IS SO INTENSE THAT IT'S A LOT FOR ANY KID LET ALONE FORNT HAVE TO DEAL WITH. I GET IT.
BUT WHAT IS ALSO DISCONCERTING TO ME IS THE NOTION THAT WE HEAR AND SEE ALL THE RESOURCES, 211, THE APP, EAGLES HAVEN, ALL THE OTHER MONEYS PUT INTO MENTAL HEALTH AND PROGRAMS BUT IT'S NOT HITTING THE TARGET AUDIENCE. AND THAT IS CONCERNING.
I AGREE WITH YOU. IF I'M A HIGH SCHOOL KID I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD GO TO SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND INCENTIVES WORK. YOU KNOW.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE YOUTH PROGRAM AT THE CHURCH THAT MY KIDS WENT TO USED TO HAND OUT AN I POD OR PAIR OF SHOES OR WHATEVER. IT WORKS.
YOU GET PEOPLE TO SHOW UP AND GUESS WHAT WHEN THEY'RE THERE THE STIGMA IS A LITTLE GONE AND THEY'RE EMBRACING DEALING WITH OTHER KIDS AND THEIR PROBLEMS. WE SHOULD FOCUS ON YOU'RE THE TARGET AUDIENCE AND YOU'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT ON THE HIGH END OF THE TARGET AUDIENCE. YOU'RE ALL GOOD STUDENTS, GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM.
YOUR COLLEAGUES IN SCHOOL MAY NOT BE AS HIGH ACHIEVING AND OVERACHIEVING AS YOU GUYS ARE SO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE DO THAT? IT COULD BE HELPED BY SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE KIDS THERE.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH YOU ALL ABOUT WAYS WE COULD DO THAT. AND I DON'T CARE IF IT'S POURING MORE MONEY INTO THE PROGRAMS. FIGURING OUT EVEN IF IT'S CHEESE I WAYS TO GET THE KIDS INTO OR THE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE BECAUSE THERE IS HELP AND THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS THE KID WHO HAS OPPORTUNITIES AND GOD FORBID DOESN'T GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
WE CAN FOCUS ON AND FIX AND WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.
I'M HAPPY TO BE PART OF THAT. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE SCHOOL SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAD A TOWN HALL YESTERDAY WITH GO CONGRESSMEN. HE TALKED TO A GROUP OF STUDENTS ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND IT'S PERVASIVE.
IT TIES INTO NOT ONLY -- MENTAL HEALTH, SAFETY, ALL THOSE ISSUES. WE HAVE TO FIX THAT AS A COUNTRY BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE. I DIDN'T GROW UP IN THE ERA OF CODE REDS. MY KIDS DID AND YOU GUYS DID AND ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS WE'RE NOW STARTING TO SEE SOME PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP IN OUR COUNTRY ON A FEDERAL LEVEL WHO HAVE GROWN UP IN YOUR GENERATION. WHO HAVE GROWN UP WITH CODE REDS SINCE THEY WERE A KID AND THEY'RE SICK OF IT AND SICK OF SEEING SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO THAT BODES WELL BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW. SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP ALLEVIATE THAT CERTAINLY WE'VE BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE OF COMMUNICATION AND I KNOW THE SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST AND I KNOW -- ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE THE OPPORTUNITIES THE KIDS HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MENTAL WELLNESS AND IF WE DON'T THINK WHAT IS SET UP NOW TO GET KIDS IN LET'S FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT WAY.
BRING THE MESSAGE TO THEM. BRING RESOURCES AND SERVICES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE AN ANSWER.
AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT YOU ALL WILL BE PART OF THAT SOLUTION BECAUSE YOU'RE THE BEST TARGET AUDIENCE WE'VE GOT.
THANK YOU ALL. AMAZING JOB BUT IT'S ALSO
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF YOU GUYS.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. [APPLAUSE]
. >> OKAY. SOMETHING WAS MENTION WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A BUSY SCHEDULE. UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T TALK -- THE ONLY TIME WE CAN TALK TO YOU ALL, COLLECTIVELY IN THIS TYPE OF SETTING BUT I CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED SCHEDULING I DON'T KNOW HALF AN HOUR, I'M SURE EACH ONE OF US THAT WE COULD PROBABLY TALK MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES AND HOW TO ADDRESS THEM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.
[00:40:01]
I'M OPEN. I KNOW COMMISSIONER BRAYER, I SEE HEADS NOD. JUST SOMETIME IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO. LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.>> I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT DEB WALKED IN BECAUSE AND HI.
BUT THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD ONE FOR YOU TO GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THE VIDEO ON IT BECAUSE THERE'S SOME REALLY GREAT IDEAS THAT THESE AMBASSADORS HAVE COME UP WITH AND SOME THINGS THAT SEEM TO BE LACKING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GETTING COMMUNICATED TO THE KIDS NOT JUST AT MSD BUT OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA SO I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU AND YOUR OTHER TEAM MEMBERS TO LOOK AT THIS VIDEO AND LEARN
FROM IT. >> LET ME JUST ADD FOR ANYBODY WATCHING AND FOR THE FIVE AMBASSADORS, THERE'S NO SHAME IN REEF BODY OUT AND GETTING HELP. ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE IN A SOCIETY WHERE PRESSURE AND ANXIETY INCLUDING BEING ON THE PHONE 24/7 MAKES IT WORSE BUT ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE ARE CODE RED DRILLS AND THE LOCKDOWNS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED THERE'S NO SHAME IN THAT.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO GET HELP.
211. EAGLES HAVEN ARE JUST TWO OF THOSE. AND THEY'RE CONNECTED BUT THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO GET OPEN. I KNOW IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR SCHOOLS YOU HAVE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, I'M SURE YOU HAVE STUDENT PEER GUIDANCE COUNSELORS.
PEER COUNSELORS. KUDOS TO THE SCHOOL FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THAT REGARD. IT'S THE OUTSIDE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S NOWHERE TO TURN BECAUSE THEY ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SCHOOL SETTING THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED IN THAT SETTING. WHAT WE CAN DO ABOVE AND BEYOND
THAT. >> THE ONLY THING I WILL SAY IS DESPITE THE PROGRAM I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS YOU MENTIONED THE STIGMA AND I THINK IF THERE IS NOT REALLY A MEANS FOR ANONYMITY OR A WAY WHERE A STUDENT IS NOW KIND OF SEEN WALKING OUT OF THE VERY ROOM WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS IS USED FOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING I THINK IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY IN A HIGH SCHOOL SETTING.
>> IT'S ALSO WITH THE PRIVACY AND AS FAR AS WHAT THEY CAN TELL WITHOUT THEM GOING TO THEIR PARENTS AND THAT'S ALL STUFF THAT'S -- THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ABOVE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATE, SCHOOL HAS TO TELL PARENTS.
WHAT THE STATE MANDATES THAT THE SCHOOL HAS TO TELL THE PARENTS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT ALL THOSE THINGS ARE BUT THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE IS WHAT YOU GUYS INDICATED TO ME WAS PART OF THE ISSUE WAS, YOU KNOW, IS IT PRIVATE.
IF THEY GO INTO THERE WHICH ODDS ARE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT 18 IT'S
AND I THINK TO THE COMMISSIONER'S POINT.
AS ROBUST AS THESE PROGRAMS MAY BE, I THINK 2 # 1 OFFERS A GREAT VEHICLE FOR DEAL, THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S BY WAY OF PHONE.
THERE'S ANONYMITY TO IT. MAYBE WHAT WE NEED ALSO IS IN ADDITION TO THE COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH OF SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS IS NOT JUST PROMOTING THE PROGRAMS AT THE SCHOOLS BUT SOME OF THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE 211 THAT GIVE THEM MORE OF A COVER SO TO SPEAK.
IF YOU GUYS COULD BE SO KIND TO SHARE YOUR FINDINGS WITH JACKIE BECAUSE WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THE WRITTEN RESPONSES.
I MEAN, THE DATA ITSELF IS GREAT BUT I THINK ALSO A LOT CAN BE GLEANED FROM THE EQQUALITATIVE RESPONSES YOU GUYS GOT.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? BEFORE WE CLAP AND SHOULD WE CLAP AGAIN? [APPLAUSE]
. >> WOULD THIS BE THE OFFICIAL ADJOURNMENT?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.