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From: Carol Walker
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 3:28 PM
1022 JUN 29 PH 3. 32
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony re Bill 175
To members of the County Council,
I am writing, both in my capacity with the East Hawaii Cultural Center and as a private citizen, to offer my strongest
support for Bill 175, "An ordinance to initiate an amendment to Article V of the Hawaii County Charter(2020
Edition), relating to establishing a youth commission within the Executive Branch."
EHCC offers art education and activities to youth of all ages. As a result, we have witnessed that our community
includes many young people whose voices deserve be heard as the County shapes public policy. For example, we
recently piloted an art/mentorship program for high schoolers, all of whom were passionate and talented artists -yet
when they responded to our initial survey, about two thirds of them did not envision themselves as having a future
career in the creative economy on the Big Island. We need to hear why Big Island youth believe this, and solicit their
input on whether and how that situation needs to be changed.
And while EHCC's mission is specific to our art and cultural lives, I know from experience that civic engagement by
youth is essential across all public arenas. Before I came to the Big Island, one of the more perplexing professional
challenges I faced, while working on an infrastructure project in Indonesia, was how to secure community support for
building better sewage facilities. At first we met with great resistance, because adults didn't want to talk about gross
things like toilets!
Young people were a different story: they were more flexible thinkers, open to new ideas. They were the ones who
cared the most and believed change was possible. When we engaged them, their elders followed suit, and community
support for much-needed infrastructure improvements grew.
I am heartened to see that the County also hopes to harness the power of youth engagement. If the Youth Commission
is created, I foresee that it will be a strong and beneficial force for people of all ages in our community.
Carol
Carol Walker(she/her)
Vic Chair, EHCC Board/Gamelan Coordinator
East Hawai'i Cultural Center
141 Kaldkaua Street
Hilo, HI 96720
EHCC office (closed Mondays): (808) 961-5711
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