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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCHAIR KIMBALL to Youth Comm agenda request.20240301.2HEATHER L. KIMBALL COUNCIL CHAIR Council District 1 (North Hilo, Hāmākua, and portion of Waimea) Phone: (808) 961-8828 Fax: (808) 961-8912 Email: Heather.Kimball@hawaiicounty.gov HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL 25 Aupuni Street, Ste. 1402. Hilo, Hawai’i 96720 Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. DATE: March 1, 2024 TO: Eric Gee, Chair Hawai‘i County Youth Commission FROM: Heather Kimball, Chair Hawai‘i County Council RE: Request for agenda item: March 13 Youth Commission meeting Dear Chair Gee: I would like to request that an agenda item be added to the Youth Commission’s March 13th meeting for me to present the opportunity for Commission members to participate in the first- ever Hawai‘i County Sustainability Summit Youth Congress (Youth Congress). Building a sustainable future where the youth of Hawai‘i County don’t just survive but thrive, has been a core mission of the County administration and engaging youth to help shape their future is critical to the success of that mission. That is why we have engaged with the Hawai‘i County Mayor’s Office, Hawai‘i Green Growth, and other community partners to sponsor the Youth Congress as part of the programming for the next Sustainability Summit. We are pleased to invite six members of the Youth Commission to participate in this exciting inaugural event. The Youth Congress will utilize a model United Nations-style format to foster dialogue, collaboration, and the development of innovative solutions to address the six 2030 sustainability focus areas: Natural Resource Management, Smart Sustainable Communities, Solid Waste Reduction, Clean Energy Transformation, Local Food and Green Workforce, and Education. In addition to Commission members, participants will primarily be 8th-grade students from schools across the County. Page 2 of 4 The primary objective of the Youth Congress is to empower the youth of Hawai‘i County and provide them with a platform to actively participate in discussions and decision-making processes related to sustainability. By simulating a formal deliberation format, we aim to promote civic engagement, critical thinking, and negotiation and problem-solving skills among these future leaders of Hawai‘i. Prior to the event, the members will receive mentorship and training from community leaders and students participating in Hawai‘i Green Growth’s Ka‘āmau-loa Pathways program on the six 2030 goals, legislative drafting, and parliamentary procedure. The participants in the Youth Congress will work together to draft a formal resolution outlining their recommendations on the 2030 sustainability goals. This resolution and a video of the Youth Congress will be presented at the full Sustainability Summit. In addition, the Youth Congress resolution will be presented at the Hawai‘i County Council and at the United Nations Summit for the Future in September 2024. 2024 HAWAI‘I COUNTY SUSTAINABILITY YOUTH CONGRESS LOGISTICS Tentative Date: Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Location: Outrigger Kona, 78-128 Ehukai St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Prework: All participants will be expected to attend or review a one-hour video conference on legislative drafting and parliamentary procedure and a video on the 2030 Sustainability Goals. There will also be support documentation made available online for the students to review before the event. Materials: All materials, lunch and refreshments will be provided at the event. Tentative Agenda: 8:30-9:30 am General Assembly: Protocol and welcome from Mayor Roth and keynote speaker. 9:45 am -12:00 pm Morning Committee Sessions: The Youth Congress will begin with six committee sessions, each dedicated to specific goal areas. These committee sessions will enable students to delve deeply into the challenges and opportunities associated with each goal and develop amendments to the Youth Congress resolution. Each committee will be chaired by an experienced facilitator who will guide and support the students throughout the process. 9:45 am -12:00 pm Teaching Sustainability and Climate Change: While the students are in the morning committee sessions, we will be providing an opportunity for any educators to participate in training on teaching about sustainability and climate change. Page 3 of 4 12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch: Lunch will be provided for the students and chaperones. 1:00-4:00 Afternoon General Assembly: Following the committee sessions, the students will reconvene in a full assembly to present and debate their amendments to the Youth Congress resolutions. This forum will encourage students to articulate their viewpoints, negotiate with their peers, and work towards building consensus. The culmination of the assembly will be the adoption of a final resolution for the 2030 goals. 4:15-5:00 pm Closing Ceremonies: Presentation of the Final Resolution: After the final assembly some of the students will have the opportunity to present the final resolutions to the attendees of the Sustainability Summit. Video of the Youth Congress will be shown at the Summit. Presentation to Hawai‘i County Council: Working with the Council Chair, the resolution will be presented to the Hawai‘i County Council. Participants will be invited to attend the Council hearings on the resolution and provide testimony. The Council resolution will be sent to the Hawai‘i County representatives and senators from the Hawai‘i State Legislature, the Governor of Hawai'i, and the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation. Summit for the Future: On September 22-23, 2024 the United Nations will hold a Summit for the Future, Hawai‘i Green Growth’s youth council will send a delegation that will share the message created at the youth summit. Expected Outcomes: Enhanced Awareness: The Youth Congress will foster a deeper understanding of sustainability issues among participating students, raising awareness about the importance of the 2030 Sustainability Goals and the role they can play in their realization. Capacity Building: Through active engagement in committee sessions, the full assembly and the final presentation, students will develop critical skills such as research, negotiation, public speaking, teamwork, and problem-solving. These skills will be invaluable as they navigate future challenges in the sustainability space. Collaboration and Networking: The Youth Congress will provide a unique opportunity for students to collaborate with peers from different schools, backgrounds, and interest groups. By sharing ideas and experiences, they will forge connections and build a network of like-minded individuals passionate about sustainability, bringing an important voice on behalf of youth to the larger sustainability community. Page 4 of 4 I hope you will be able to include this item on your March 13th agenda. If you have any questions about the Hawai‘i County Sustainability Youth Congress, please contact me at (808) 961-8828 or Heather.Kimball@Hawaiicounty.gov. Sincerely, HEATHER L. KIMBALL Council Chair