Mount Pleasant Youth Council

MOUNT PLEASANT YOUTH COUNCIL Thursday, September 7, 2023 5:00 PM Mount Pleasant Municipal Complex Council Chambers 100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 MINUTES 1. Call to Order David McLawhorn called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. Youth Council Members Mia Weis, Porter Yount, Layla Giddens, Grace Griffin, Rose Dillon, Jackson Naylor, Rowan Rucker, Ainsley Scarlett, Addison Utsey, Lane Yarbrough and Evan Nussbaum were all present. Eli Barker was present electronically. 2. Public Comments [None] 3. Welcome and Introductions Staff Members David McLawhorn and Hailey Howard as well as the Youth Council Members introduced themselves. 4. Approval of the minutes from the March 2, 2023 meeting Ms. Griffin moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Ms. Yarbrough. All present voted in favor. 5. Review of Robert’s Rules of Order Mr. McLawhorn gave the Youth Council Members a handout with basic Robert’s Rules of Order and asked the members to review it and reach out if they had any questions. 6. Overview of the Town of Mount Pleasant and Youth Council Program Mr. McLawhorn gave the presentation located here. 7. Discussion of priority projects for the session Mr. McLawhorn asked the Youth Council Members what types of projects they would like to consider.  Mount Pleasant Youth Council September 7, 2023 Page 2 of 4 Ms. Griffin said the previous Youth Council had done a Christmas Card project for Meals on Wheels and she would like to consider doing that again this year as it can be outsourced to the various schools. Ms. Howard asked in what timeframe the cards were made, and Ms. Griffin responded she thought it was in November. Ms. Utsey said she would like to consider another book drive. Ms. Weis said there are food drives through East Cooper Community Outreach and she would like to consider participating. Ms. Griffin said she has a non-profit where toiletries are collected for the homeless and she would like to consider a toiletry drive. Mr. Nussbaum said he volunteers downtown with the homeless. He said they need clothes, haircuts, referrals to doctors and medical staff and he would like to do something to assist them with items and services other than food. Ms. Weis said perhaps a referral list could be put together. Ms. Dillon stated she has attended events on human trafficking, and she would like to put together an awareness event or even a club at school where students can learn about this issue. Ms. Griffin stated there are quarterly projects as well as priority projects. The quarterly projects are larger projects. One year Youth Council raised money to build outdoor basketball courts and wrote a letter to the state legislators regarding funding for student mental health. Ms. Scarlett asked about participating in a marsh sweep. Ms. Griffin stated that is something that is done when it is a little warmer, perhaps in the fall. Mr. McLawhorn said the Town’s stormwater division does several marsh sweeps every year and he believes there is one coming up soon. Ms. Utsey said Youth Council had participated in Children’s Day last year by giving out free trees.  Mount Pleasant Youth Council September 7, 2023 Page 3 of 4 Ms. Weis said the Medical University of South Carolina has programs where you can buy clothes and Christmas gifts for children during Christmas, and she would like to consider that as a project. Ms. Griffin said Youth Council in the past had worked with the Medical University of South Carolina to collect books for the neonatal unit. Ms. Howard asked what the Youth Council Members were seeing in the community or in the high schools that is a problem for which they could try and find a solution. Ms. Dillon said she did not know their high school had a psychologist until she got a concussion last spring, so raising awareness that they are available for everyone would be beneficial. Ms. Weis said in South Carolina there is a return to play protocol, but there is no return to learn protocol. Ms. Dillon said that was an issue for her when she had her concussion and that is an area that needs some work. Ms. Dillon stated she is on the Mayor’s Youth Council for Charleston, and they are doing a summit for mental health. She stated she would like to consider one just for the Mount Pleasant schools. Mr. McLawhorn asked the Youth Council Members to think about the issues over the next month and see if there is anything else they want to try and address. Ms. Howard asked if it would be helpful to put together a document of ideas that were suggested so everyone could see them and then fine- tune the list and come up with a plan at the next meeting. The consensus was that a document would be beneficial. 8. Call for nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair positions Ms. Griffin said she would like to be considered for the Chair position. Ms. Utsey said she would like to be considered for the Vice Chair position. There being no other volunteers or nominations, Mr. McLawhorn called for the vote on the candidates. All present voted in favor to elect Ms. Griffin as Chair and Ms. Utsey as Vice Chair.  Mount Pleasant Youth Council September 7, 2023 Page 4 of 4 9. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:42 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Christine Barrett Clerk of Council September 7, 2023