Minnesota Youth Council Sworn in at Camp Ihduhapi
December 18, 2014
By Erin Ginnaty-Moore, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow
The Minnesota Youth Council started the 2014-15 council year off strong, with a three day retreat at Camp Ihduhapi. Youth members gained and shared essential skills, participating in trainings and activities around interviewing, public speaking, leadership training, and group decision making. Youth and Adult partners joined together to bond and figure out their partnership, even spending an afternoon on a low-ropes team building activity. Committees were hard at work at camp Ihduhapi, meeting to decide on projects and vote in committee co-chairs for the year. The retreat culminated in a full council meeting, with all members joining together to create plans and strategies for the upcoming year. The weekend at camp ended with the Swearing-In of the 2014-2015 council. State Senators and Representatives, members of the Minnesota Department of Education, and leaders from partners at Youthprise, youthrive, and Ignite Afterschool all joined the youth and adults members as they recited the MYC oath. Attendees and participants heard kind words from Wokie Weah, President of Youthprise, Callie Aguilar, Associate Director of youthrive, and MDE Deputy Commissioner Steve Dibb. The legislative liaisons to the council this year, Senator Hall, who traveled out to Loretto for the event, Senator Dahle, Rep. Marquart and Rep. Myhra were all recognized for their commitment to youth voice. Letters were read from U.S. Senators Klobuchar and Franken, congratulating the new Minnesota Youth Council and thanking them for their commitment. The ceremony was followed by a networking lunch where MYC members, parents, partners, and legislator representatives had a chance to meet and connect.