Youth Council Archives

Minnesota Safe Routes to School: Youth Partnership Resources and Action Plan

The Minnesota Youth Council partnered with the MN Department of Transportation to create the Youth Partnership Resources and Action Plan (PDF), a guidebook for a Minnesota where youth can “safely, confidently, and conveniently walk, bike, and roll to school and in daily life.”  Youth-led meetings (table talks) guided the process in identifying barriers and opportunities, as well as developing resources and recommendations to support youth engagement, empowerment, and leadership opportunities in SRTS across Minnesota.

Youth Day at the Capitol 2022

YDAC 2022 was held virtually on February 15th, with students across the state joining online to hear about advocacy and personal histories from, State Auditor Julie Blaha, Secretary of State Steve Simon, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, and Governor Tim Walz.  Attendees also participated in an Advocacy Training with members of the Minnesota Youth Council, and had one-on-one meetings with their Senators and Representatives!

2022 Legislative Testimony

Feb 2, 2022 House Education Finance Committee: Adri Arquin, Charlie Schmit, and Sara Maki (testimony starts at minute 13) (See also: Minnesota Reformer article House education committee hears directly from high school students)

Feb 9, 2022 House Education Policy Committee Increase Teachers of Color Act: Rhea Rajvansh (testimony starts at minute 19:40)

March 11, 2022 State Government Finance Committee: Minnesota Youth Advisory Council (testimony from Rep. Jim Davnie, Halla Henderson, Sage Hartman, Eric Li and Salma Abdi- starts at minute 2:20)

March 21, 2022 House Education Policy Committee HF341 Student Data Privacy Act– Sahasra Molleti and Charlie Schmitt (testimony starts at 1:06:35)

Social Justice Through the Humanities Mini Grants

At the core of the Minnesota Humanities Center is the Absent Narratives Approach– a values-driven framework for community engagement and collaboration. These values include: learning from and with multiple voices, building and strengthening diverse relationships, recognizing the inequity or dangers of a single story, and amplifying community solutions for change. This approach put relationships with people at the center of community change-making and center diverse voices statewide — especially those left out, marginalized, or otherwise absented from our education and public awareness. In collaboration and partnership with youth, the Roseville Area School district, Minnesota Alliance With Youth, Youth Service America, and the Minnesota Humanities Center, this project expanded youth leadership on issues of social and racial justice and amplify youth-led solutions.

Statement on Gov Walz’s Ban on Conversion Therapy

Following Governor Walz’s executive order to restrict Conversion Therapy in the state of Minnesota, of the Health and Wellbeing subcommittee felt the order aligned well with the objectives of the committee, and council as a whole.  Ensuring equity, safety, and opportunity for all young Minnesotans is a priority for the MYCC, and the measures taken through this Executive Order demonstrate a commitment to the safety of LGBTQ+ young people.  Though impactful on its own, this order is only a first step.  Condemning abuse and establishing dignity is the responsibility of a body intended to govern all its people.  In future legislation we hope to see further action taken towards protecting the wellbeing of youth throughout the state of Minnesota, particularly historically disenfranchised youth.  The Minnesota Youth Council is supportive of Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan in their decision to prioritize young people’s safety, and will continue to promote this issue in their own work.

Youth in Educational Leadership Summit 2021

YELS 2021 was held virtually on April 24th!  Across the state, young people are in positions of leadership in their schools and communities, working within the same system and towards similar goals regarding education and equity. However, we rarely have the opportunity to meet and collaborate directly. We know that strong youth voice, representation, and partnership is necessary in order to create a Minnesota that empowers all students.

Presentations and workshops focused 4 key areas: Environmental Justice, Juvenile Justice, Education Equity, and Health & Wellbeing.

2021 Legislative testimony

May 3, 2021 House Education Conference Committee (Omnibus Education Finance Bill); Salma Abdi, Sahasra Molleti and Isabelle Wong (testimony starts at 1:58:50)

March 18, 2021 HF 1644 (Flexible Learning Year and Distance Learning) – Salma Abdi (testimony starts at 56:02) and Eric Li (testimony starts at 59:00)

March 10, 2021 HF 1721 (Tobacco Tax Changes- e-cigarette)– Eric Li (testimony starts at 30:00)

March 4, 2021 HF1314 (Minnesota Youth Council funding)– Ava Kalenze, Paula Akakpo, Bridget Westrom, Weston Loughmiller, Neese Parker, and D’Andre Gordon (testimony on HF1314 starts at 18:34)- written testimony submitted by various youth and community members as well as Secretary of State Steve Simon

Feb 24, 2021 SF1044 (Student Unemployment Benefits)- written testimony submitted by the Minnesota Youth Council

Feb 24, 2021 HF358 (Comprehensive Sex Education)– Ava Kalenze (starts at 15:55), with written testimony submitted by Kaycie Brookens

Feb 16, 2021 HF168 (Cumulative Pollution Analysis Requirement)- Adri Arquin (starts at 31:35)

Feb 10, 2021 HF358 (Comprehensive Sex Education)– Ava Kalenze (starts at 14:57) and Trinity Hanif (starts at 20:20)

Feb 3, 2021 HF375 (Youth Mental Health)– Liv Steen (starts at 1:12:27) and Juwaria Jama (starts at 1:17:39)

Jan 27, 2021 HF217 (Increase Teachers of Color Act)–  Salma Abdi (starts at 39:10)

Jan 12, 2021 House Education Finance Committee (First Meeting of the Session)- Jaden Henderson, Karen Guise, Katelyn Dorry, Salma Abdi and Kacyie Brookens

Council Statement on the Murder of George Floyd

“The inequitable, oppressive systems that have faced scrutiny due to George Floyd’s death have existed for centuries. Though Civil Rights has advanced throughout history, our nation still has a long way to go. We, America’s young people, are this nation’s hope. Members of Generation Z are said to be inclusive and progressive. We are unwilling to allow the long-standing generations of racial inequities hinder our commitment to social justice. Because of this, we are not hesitant to imagine a new and better country for ourselves. We have commanded national power as youth activists, already showing ourselves to be a civically engaged generation. This country is ours to shape, and we will mold it with the empathetic, collectivist mindset that distinguishes us from former generations. While pursuing the best our nation has to offer, we will soften the hearts and minds of those who oppose us, paving the way for a better nation.”

Youth Forum on Covid-19

On May 15th 2020, the youth leaders of the Minnesota Youth Council, in partnership with the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet, the MN Department of Education, and the MN Department of Health, hosted a Youth Forum on Covid-19.

Youth Voice Service Grants

The Youth Voice Service Grant program provides young people in the Roseville community and broader Minnesota community to showcase their ongoing youth led advocacy and organizing efforts. The awarding of these grants will be determined based upon specified criteria for youth participation in four focus areas: Juvenile Justice, Education Equity, Environmental Justice, Health and Wellness. Thanks to our generous funders for the Youth Voice Service Grants; Youth Service America and the Graves Foundation!

9/11 Call to Action Toolkit

In partnership with Roseville Area Schools and the Minnesota Humanities Center, and with the support of Youth Service America and the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Minnesota Youth Council created a 9/11 Day of Service Call to Action Toolkit.  This toolkit will guide you through steps that will help you identify an issue important to you and your community and create a meaningful impact.

Youth Act Up Video Series

The Youth Act Up video series supports the implementation of the 9/11 Call to Action Toolkit and Youth Social Justice Project. The Youth Social Justice Project is a collaboration between the Minnesota Alliance With Youth, Roseville Area Schools, and Minnesota Humanities Center that seeks to establish and expand a coalition of youth leading for change on issues of social and racial justice and community engagement in their local communities and in the state of Minnesota.

Learn With Us Video Series

Youth Day at the Capitol

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, hundreds of young people came to the state capitol for YDAC, an annual event connecting youth, community experts and local policymakers.

The goal of YDAC is to get young people talking with their legislators about issues that are important to them. Check out our YDAC19 recap!

YDAC was presented by: Minnesota Alliance With Youth, Minneapolis YWCA, Minnesota Civic Youth, the Minnesota Community Education Association, and the Minnesota History Center.

Youth Educational Leadership Summit 2019

Across the state, young people are in positions of leadership in their schools and communities, working within the same system and towards similar goals regarding education and equity.  However, we rarely have the opportunity to meet and collaborate directly. We know that strong youth voice, representation, and partnership is necessary in order to create a Minnesota that empowers ALL students.

To move us towards this goal, the Minnesota Youth Council hosted the very first Youth in Educational Leadership Summit (YELS) on March 30th at Patrick Henry High School. Over 200 students and adults from across the state joined together for an exciting day full of training and workshops designed and facilitated entirely by youth. They learned from one another on critical topics – such as working with local school boards, writing bills, and the creation of a Student Bill of Rights.  YELS 2019 was made possible through the generous support of the Magellan Cares Foundation and the Graves Foundation.

Statement on School Safety

In 2018, in the wake of the Parkland School shooting, the members of the Minnesota Youth Council crafted and issued the following statement regarding school safety:

“The Minnesota Youth Council is the legislatively mandated voice of the youth of Minnesota, and as such, it has varied, unique and partisan individual voices. However, regardless of party lines, MYC members are in agreement that student safety and advocacy have always been and will remain non-partisan and massively important values. It is for this reason that the MYC would like to officially voice its support of the students rallying together, demanding that senseless acts of gun violence should never be a source of fear in public settings, most notably, in schools.”

MYC WikiWisdom 

In 2018 the MYC WikiWisdom Forum, sponsored by New Voice Strategies, engaged 8-12 grade students across Minnesota in a collaborative online conversation to answer this question: “How do we address the top issues facing our schools, including making schools safer and more supportive?” Youth opinion on a variety of topics was collected, including; mental health support, teacher diversity, testing and difficulty of classes, PSEO, transportation, internet accessibility, stress-level of students, afterschool opportunities, youth voice in important decisions, bullying/discrimination, and the school to prison pipeline (expulsions, suspensions, detentions, etc). On August 9, the thought leaders from this online forum met with Senator Tina Smith to present a report of actionable ideas.

Statement on Sexual Harassment

In early 2018, in response to instances of sexual harassment at the MN State Capitol, the MYC created and released the following statement regarding sexual harassment: “In this day and age, it is completely unacceptable for citizens and government workers alike to fear they may become a victim of sexual harassment. The assaults reported against those representing us both federally and locally are alarming and discouraging; particularly as young people working within government. Sexual harassment is a deep, complex issue that must be addressed by all.  For this reason, we applaud the efforts of Representative Maye Quade, Representative Becker-Finn, and Lindsey Port to create a task force on sexual harassment and hope that it will be representative of the communities most frequently targeted by attackers, including high school and college students.” (Read full statement HERE)

2018 MYC Student Survey

In 2018, the students of the MYC created and conducted a survey for the young people of Minnesota.  930 youth participated. Top issues of concern to Minnesota’s youth were identified as; Bullying/Discrimination, Mental Health Support, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, School Arts Funding, and Positive School Climate.