Youth Commission

1 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF A REGULARLY SCHEDULED 2 YOUTH COMMISSION MEETING 3 VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK 4 COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 5 January 27, 2016 6 “Lead, Serve, Shine” 7 8 Adult Commissioners Present (6) 9 Carla Slawson-Martens, Chairperson 10 Gary Moriello 11 Kay Ellen Stein 12 David Whitlock 13 Kelli Christenson 14 Jodie Dinelli 15 16 Student Commissioners Present (8) 17 Danny Martens 18 Ethan Kirschenbaum 19 Grace Elisco 20 Lucia Bosacoma 21 Brandon Mankoff 22 Danny Brodson 23 Kieley Anderson 24 Cecilia Calise 25 26 Adult/Student Commissioners Absent (3) 27 Bianca Osinski 28 Jessica Bresler 29 Zainab Ahmed 30 31 Village Staff Present (2) 32 Jason Batalden, Staff Liaison 33 Gale Cerabona, Recorder 34 35 1. Call to Order 36 Chairperson Slawson-Martens enlisted Commissioner Elisco as Student Chairperson for this meeting. 37 Student Chairperson Elisco called the meeting to order in the Terrace Room of Village Hall, 1225 Cedar 38 Lane, at 7:03 p.m. A quorum was present. 39 40 2. Welcome 41 Chairperson Slawson-Martens welcomed Dr. Michael Tarjan, Assistant Principal – Student Activities, 42 GBN. Everyone introduced themselves. 43 44 3. Approval of Meeting Minutes 45 Commissioner Moriello moved, seconded by Commissioner Martens, to approve the YC meeting 46 minutes of November 18, 2015. On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried. 47 48  Page 2 Minutes of the January 27, 2016 Youth Commission Meeting 1 4. Hear from the Audience 2 There was no Hear from the Audience. 3 4 5. Discussion with Dr. Michael Tarjan, Assistant Principal – Student Activities, GBN 5 Chairperson Slawson-Martens explained how the YC is charged with reevaluating itself and revising its 6 mission. A brief history was provided. 7 8 Commissioners Kirschenbaum, Stein, Anderson and Calise arrived at 7:07 p.m. Commissioners 9 Christenson and Bosacoma arrived at 7:09 p.m. 10 11 Student and Adult Commissioners shared how they learned about the YC. Chairperson Slawson-Martens 12 advised attendance used to be 7 Adults and 7 Students. Information on YC events was described as well 13 as having guest speakers and potential community partnerships. 14 15 Chairperson Slawson-Martens suggested to Dr. Tartan that if a YC Club was formed at GBN, it may be a 16 way to advise students that the YC exists at the Village. She noted a possible intent is for youth in 17 Northbrook to have a voice. It was recommended perhaps the YC could host an annual forum. 18 19 Dr. Tarjan advised student clubs are teacher-led. He noted the difficulty in recruiting students. Dr. Tarjan 20 stated there is a Student Advisory Committee (from freshman to seniors), class Boards, and Student 21 (Activity) Board. He suggested pulling students from those groups to become a members on the YC. 22 23 Dr. Tarjan shared he has been in his position for 11 years. He advised he has seen fall off in club 24 attendance in December and a rise in attendance in the Spring. Dr. Tarjan referred to Interact (student 25 Rotary club), and stated there is no government club. 26 27 Commissioner Whitlock referenced Operation Snowball to explore how the YC can better serve 28 Northbrook’s youth. Dr. Tarjan advised that other clubs spearheaded Operation Snowball. 29 30 Chairperson Slawson-Martens referred to the new Northbrook YC 2016 and Beyond proposal and 31 reviewed same. The Student Gallup Poll was discussed. Identifying, nurturing gaps, and providing a 32 platform for youth is the intention. 33 34 Dr. Tarjan asked the students if youth will respond and care. Some Student Commissioners believe: 35  It is dependent on realistic programs (post flyers to engage students) 36  A focus group with members of various clubs could be beneficial. Dr. Tarjan referred to past 37 President Meetings. 38  There is a lack of advertising 39  Student Government Day could include a speaker from the YC (and connect with those who do 40 not attend) 41 42 Chairperson Slawson-Martens suggested connecting with the class Boards. Dr. Tarjan advised youth can 43 be reactive (rather than proactive). He stated the topic is important; must be specific and powerful. Dr. 44 Tarjan suggested collaborating on presentations (approaching DECA, etc.). Commissioner Kirschenbaum 45 recommended a prime window is August-October. Dr. Tarjan suggested February-April as an 46 appropriate window as well.  Page 3 Minutes of the January 27, 2016 Youth Commission Meeting 1 Dr. Tarjan recommended empowering students to have a voice and potentially create a Youth Center. 2 He suggested including students from other high schools as well. Commissioner Whitlock recommended 3 partnering with a peer group (asking students what they like or don’t like in their community). 4 5 Dr. Tarjan advised he likes to steer students toward something already in place rather than adding more 6 or a new club. Commissioner Brodson suggested posting links at the library, schools, etc. 7 8 Chairperson Slawson-Martens recapped the previous concepts and input, and concluded it makes sense 9 to overlap or link with an existing club or Board at GBN. 10 11 Dr. Tarjan suggested the YC offer a survey at a President’s Meeting. He stated approaching students in 12 person is more engaging. 13 14 Commissioner Mankoff asked and Chairperson Slawson-Martens responded that past YC events may not 15 continue in the future (or could be handed off to another entity). Dr. Tarjan and Chairperson Slawson- 16 Martens shared that two GBN students who attended the YC Quiz Bowl are now launching a Quiz Bowl 17 at GBN. Commissioner Whitlock stressed future events would be purpose-driven. 18 19 Dr. Tarjan stated youth have to have small wins to build this program. Having a student sit on Village 20 Commissions was suggested. Liaison Batalden reminded the YC’s Board Liaison can obtain YC 21 recommendations and report to the Village Board. 22 23 Dr. Tarjan stated GBN does not have its students experience the governmental process. He suggested 24 the Village Board use the YC as a voice. It was recommended that the existing Student (youth) 25 Commissioners decide how to spread the word at the school. 26 27 Commissioner Christenson suggested utilizing Torch. Chairperson Slawson-Martens recommended a 28 column. 29 30 Commissioner Brodson suggested that students absorb topics and utilize them in class. He believes the 31 YC is not grounded. Chairperson Slawson-Martens concurred and stated the YC is in flux. 32 33 Chairperson Slawson-Martens thanked Dr. Tarjan for his input. Everyone gave Dr. Tarjan a round of 34 applause. 35 36 6. Review of Youth Commission Mission and Activities 37 a. GBN Club Update 38 Commissioners Elisco and Bosacoma were recruited to attend the Student Advisory Board 39 Meeting on February 11, 2016, at 12:30 p.m. 40 b. Past Meeting with Northbrook Public Library 41 YC will continue with the Quiz Bowl as the Northbrook Public Library is not ready to host. 42 Chairperson Slawson-Martens stated the Northbrook Public Library will host the Film Fest 43 (hopefully in June); YC will assist. She noted the library staff may create the questions. 44 c. Past Meeting with Dr. Riggle 45 Chairperson Slawson-Martens read Dr. Riggle’s comments and feedback on the Civics Course, 46 etc. It was stated the Civics Course will not be given; will be incorporated. 47  Page 4 Minutes of the January 27, 2016 Youth Commission Meeting 1 d. Creation of Report Sub-Committee 2 A report will be submitted to President Frum. 3 4 7. Upcoming Events 5 a. Quiz Bowl – Assignment of Tasks/Roles 6 Chairperson Slawson-Martens reminded rehearsal is February 17th and Quiz Bowl is February 7 25th from 5-6:30 p.m. The following students volunteered or were recruited: 8  Welcome and Introduction Commissioner Markoff 9  Readers Commissioners Elisco, Martens, Kirschenbaum, and 10 Bosacoma 11  Scorekeeper Commissioner Brodson 12 13 8. Old Business 14 a. Operation Santa Claus Update 15 Commissioner Moriello announced they had the most student recipients ever! 16 17 9. New Business 18 There was no New Business. 19 20 10. Student Hot Topics 21 a. Prom Fashion Show 22 Commissioner Elisco shared that the event is March 13th at the YMCA from 2-3:30 p.m. 23 24 Discussion took place on the YC’s role, liaising with other Village Commissions, the purpose of working 25 with GBN, etc. Chairperson Slawson-Martens believes Dr. Tarjan seemed very open-minded. It was 26 stated the YC could advise the Village Board on topics the youth are dealing with. 27 28 Commissioner Elisco suggested the Presidents at GBN Clubs meet monthly and report to the YC (via a 29 topic to or from the YC). Commissioner Bosacoma suggested merging a YC topic with an existing 30 President’s Meeting. 31 32 Commissioner Brodson recommended a link with Student Government Day for YC recruitment. 33 34 11. Upcoming Meetings 35 a. February 17, 2016 – Quiz Bowl Rehearsal 36 b. February 25, 2016 – Quiz Bowl 37 38 12. Adjournment 39 Commissioner Whitlock moved, seconded by Commissioner Elisco, to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 p.m. 40 On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried. 41 42 Respectfully submitted, 43 44 Gale Cerabona 45 Recorder