Youth Commission

Regular Meeting

Arlington Heights, IL · October 17, 2024

Minutes

Minutes Village of Arlington Heights Youth Commission Village Hall 33 S. Arlington Heights Rd. Commissions Room October 17, 2024 6:00 PM I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Son called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. II. ROLL CALL Present Also Present Alice Son, Chair James McCalister, Liaison Jennifer Borrell Kimberly Witt, Administrative Assistant Matt Healy Tracey Colagrossi, Senior Center Manager Chyrel Moore Colin Smith Absent Sydney Galla Lucy Jochaniewicz Michael Bauer Jennifer Borrell Christopher Hong Afroz Hafeez Ava McQuade Riley Phillips Taryn Gombar III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes from September 19, 2024 A motion was made by Commissioner Hong to approve the minutes of the September 19, 2024 meeting, seconded by Commissioner Moore and approved by unanimous consent. IV. REPORTS 1 A. Library Chair Son mentioned that she should have visited all the schools at least once in September for Tinker Days in the library and encouraged the Commissioners to visit the schools if they have the opportunity. She also noted that practice exams for the ACT and SAT are available. While the ACT exam has already taken place, the SAT practice exam is coming up. Students are encouraged to reach out for assistance if they wish to practice for the exam. For those needing service hours, the library's Teen Advisory Board is hosting a project on Sunday, October 20th, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in the Cardinal Room, where participants will make blankets for pets at a local shelter. No sign-up is required to attend. B. Park District Commissioner Healy provided an update on the fall special events. Harvest Fest was held a few weeks ago, and Teen Night will take place soon. Though it's called "Teen Night," the event is actually for preteens—5th to 8th graders—with about 100 kids enrolled. On Sunday, the Pumpkin Splash event will be held for younger children. The popular Trunk or Treat event at Pioneer Park will take place, drawing a large crowd and in need of volunteers. The Park District is in full swing with fall activities, and even more events are on the way, including exciting collaborations with the library. Upcoming highlights include the Teen Job Fair and Preschool Information Night, set for February 5. C. Police Department No report. D. Schools Commissioner Moore reported that everything is progressing smoothly and they are excited about Halloween. She mentioned that students in grades 3 through 6 are currently taking a state survey, which asks them about their thoughts and feelings on school, how they manage tasks, and whether they are kind to others. The survey responses range from "never" to "frequently." She noted that it is always interesting to see how the students respond. E. Members at Large Commissioner Smith from St. Viator High reported that this week has been a short one for him, with just two days in school. He mentioned that there were three days off this week—Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Although Wednesday was a testing day, school let out early at 10:30. He also noted that Homecoming went well. Commissioner Hong from Buffalo Grove High School reported that Homecoming went smoothly last month. He mentioned that the construction on the school is gradually nearing completion, though it's not quite finished yet. The artificial grass hasn't been installed outside, and work on the tennis courts is still ongoing, with completion expected to take some time. He also noted that the juniors recently took a practice test for the pre- ACT, and teachers are increasingly incorporating ACT prep into their curriculum. Other than that, things are continuing as usual at the school. Commissioner Bauer from Rolling Meadows High School reported that, as a senior, standardized test prep is no longer part of the curriculum for him. He mentioned that Homecoming, which took place three weekends ago, went well. Now, most fall sports are wrapping up, and the past few days have been particularly cold. He noted that the Rolling 2 Meadows football team has been performing better than last year, but loss their Homecoming game against Prospect High School. He also shared that security measures at the school have been increased. Security guards are now making rounds after school, checking classrooms to ensure students are where they’re supposed to be and asking about the whereabouts of any adults. He mentioned that one of the guards remarked this level of vigilance is higher than in previous years. In addition, Commissioner Bauer mentioned that the fall play is about to open in 45 minutes. He works on the lighting for the production, and luckily most of the setup is done before the show starts. The play, Mary's Wedding, is actually the theater director's master's thesis and is a story set during wartime. Commissioner McQuade from Hersey High School reported that while the Hersey football team lost to Prospect, Homecoming was a fun event, with students enjoying the pre- parties, the dance, and the after parties. She noted that fall sports are winding down, with flag football having a strong performance in regionals and many sports now entering their conference series. Cross country and swim will begin their conference competitions on Saturday, marking the start of the postseason push toward sectionals, regionals, and state. Commissioner McQuade is also looking forward to the fall musical, Grease, and plans to attend to support friends in the cast. Additionally, she provided an update on the district-wide JROTC program, which includes students from St. Viator, Palatine, and other District 214 schools. She mentioned the recent awards night, where students were recognized for achievements, advancements, and success in winter competitions. Despite the long hours of standing in formation, Commissioner McQuade found it rewarding to see the students' hard work celebrated. Commissioner Galla from Prospect High School reported that the school is going well. Recently, they held a single-night event where juniors and seniors discussed ways to improve the Prospect community, with the latest topic focusing on "extraordinary" efforts to make a positive impact. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Fall/Winter Project Chair Son shared an update from the previous meeting, presenting a list of organizations the Commission plans to collaborate with for their upcoming drive. These organizations include Good Neighbors Network, Feed My Starving Children, Lemons of Love, The Knight Ministry, and Journeys. She provided an overview of each organization and the events they host. After discussion, the Commission voted to prioritize two initiatives: the Birthday Gift Pantry in partnership with Good Neighbors Network and the Holiday Care Packages through Lemons of Love. B. 2024 Voting Awareness Project Chair Son reported that the Commission had discussed creating a flyer to raise voter awareness. However, she found that the library already has a flyer available for distribution to schools. This flyer is part of an initiative by the Library Association in collaboration with Vote411, designed to help teens learn how to register to vote and find polling places. The program includes a flyer, bookmarks, and a QR code linking to the website. Chair Son distributed the flyer to the Commissioners and will also email it to them. 3 Commissioner Bauer reported that the League of Women Voters would be setting up a mock voting station at Rolling Meadows High School. Chair Son asked Commissioner Bauer to gather any updates on how the event went, so the Commission could use the information to prepare for the next election. C. Snow Shoveling Referral Program Tracey Colagrossi, Senior Center Manager, introduced herself and shared some background information. She highlighted her role on the Senior Citizens' Commission and explained how a collaborative effort between the Youth Commission, Senior Citizens’ Commission, and the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities led to the creation of the Snow Shoveling Referral Program. This initiative pairs students with seniors and individuals with disabilities to help clear snow from their driveways and walkways. She explained that she is attending the meeting to answer any questions. At this time of year, she is focused on getting students added to the list. Her goal is to have a solid list ready to send out to residents by November 1. As more students sign up, she will provide updated lists. She also mentioned that most students charge $15 per hour, and residents contact the students directly. There are over 300 seniors in need of this service, but only around 39 snow shovelers available. The Youth Commissioners and Ms. Colagrossi discussed what information should be provided to seniors after youth sign up. After careful consideration, it was decided that seniors would receive a list with each youth's first name, email address, cell phone number, and the nearest public school. This will help seniors select students who live nearby. Additionally, it was agreed that there should be a disclaimer for the youth during the sign-up process, informing them that their contact information will be shared with the seniors. For the seniors, suggestions on the best ways to contact the teens should also be included. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Teen Job Fair Tabled until next meeting. VII. OTHER BUSINESS A. Announcements / Correspondence None. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT None IX. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner McQuade, seconded by Commissioner Galla, moved to adjourn at 7:06 p.m. all concurred and the motion carried unanimously. 4

Agenda

Packet

AGENDA Youth Commission Commissions Room Arlington Heights Village Hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Rd., AH 60005 October 17, 2024 6:00 PM I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Septembef 19, 2024 Minutes IV. REPORTS A. Library B. Park District C. Police Department D. Schools E. Members at Large V. OLD BUSINESS A. Fall/Winter Project The Commission will further develop and plan their volunteer initiative for community teens. B. 2024 Voting Awareness Project The Commissioin will further review promotional opportunities for sharing voting resources for teens. C. Snow Shoveling Referral Program The Commission will further discuss updates to the snow shoveling referral program and how to promote to teens. VI. NEW BUSINESS Page 1 of 8 A. Teen Job Fair The Commission will start initial planning for the Teen Job Fair 2025. VII. OTHER BUSINESS A. Announcements / Correspondence VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT Anyone wishing to speak on a subject not on the Agenda may speak at this time. Please limit your comments to three minutes. IX. ADJOURNMENT Persons with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services, such as an American Sign Language interpreter or written materials in accessible formats, should contact Erin Mercado, at 33 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, emercado@vah.com or 847/368- 5793. Page 2 of 8 Minutes Village of Arlington Heights Youth Commission Arlington Heights Memorial Library 500 N. Dunton Ave, Cardinal Room September 19, 2024 6:00 PM I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Son called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Everyone introduced themselves. II. ROLL CALL Present Also Present Alice Son, Chair James McCalister, Liaison Jennifer Borrell Kimberly Witt, Administrative Assistant Matt Healy Afroz Hafeez Absent Cheryl Moore Lucy Jochaniewicz Colin Smith Riley Phillips Sydney Galla Taryn Gombar Michael Bauer Christopher Hong Ava McQuade III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes from August 15, 2024 A motion was made by Commissioner Hong to approve the corrected minutes of the August 15, 2024 meeting, seconded by Commissioner McQuade and approved by unanimous consent. IV. REPORTS 1 Page 3 of 8 A. Library Chair Son mentioned that September has flown by, and she can’t believe it’s already the 19th—time is moving way too fast! They have been visiting schools all across district 214 so be sure to stop by during lunchtime for Tinker Days. If they haven’t been to your school yet, don’t worry, they will be there soon. Chair Son also mentioned that for high schoolers who might be interested, the library is currently offering practice exams for the ACT and SAT. These sessions, which typically take place on weekends—either Saturdays or Sundays—are designed to give students valuable test prep. Since these exams can take a while, the weekend format is intended to give students enough time without disrupting their weekday schedules. For more details, students are encouraged to check the library's calendar. B. Park District Commissioner Healy reported that summer has officially come to a close, with the rec pool having been shut down just two days ago. With the end of summer, things are winding down outdoors and shifting back inside. There aren't any major events happening right now, just some smaller special events here and there. Commissioner Healy mentioned that it’s only been two weeks since the start of fall programming, so things are just beginning to ramp up. C. Police Department No report. D. Schools Commissioner Moore reported that things are moving along smoothly. It seems that, nationwide, everyone has come to terms with the fact that we're three years out from COVID, and we're all starting from the same place. There's no need to rush or feel behind— it's clear that we're at the point where everyone just needs to start where they are and move forward. The kids are happy to be back, and teachers are in workshops, doing what they can to adjust. Overall, everything seems to be moving forward without major issues, including the buses, which are running smoothly with kids getting to and from school. E. Members at Large Commissioner Hong from Buffalo Grove High School reported that things are relatively quiet at the moment, with the ongoing construction and redevelopment outside being the main activity. However, next week is homecoming, which is an exciting event. In addition, there will also be a pep rally adding to the excitement. Commissioner Bauer of Rolling Meadows High School reported that homecoming will be held outdoors. While there's still about a month to go until homecoming, everyone has settled back into the school routine. The football team has already played three games, winning two of them, so there’s optimism that the team might have a strong season this year, especially with Robbie Gould as a coach. Commissioner McQuade from Hersey High School reported that things have been going pretty well. In District 14, there are funds allocated to different schools, and this year Hersey was supposed to receive some of that money. The plan was to use it for a new track and roof, but so far, there hasn’t been any sign of those updates. Instead, the school has received stickers, with the principal putting decals all over the building. For example, privacy stickers have been added to the windows of the weight room, which used to attract a lot of curious students walking by. 2 Page 4 of 8 Looking ahead, Homecoming week is set for October 5th, and preparations are underway with several events planned. Spirit days will take place, and there’s also the big game for CLS students, which includes an all-school assembly and pep rally. During this event, tickets are raffled off to sit near the basketball court, and it’s always a fun and energetic experience. The event has even been featured in the news, and money raised is donated to causes like Gerry's Cafe, which was the recipient last year. Additionally, this week marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. Hersey has been celebrating with quotes shared during announcements, as well as activities during lunch each day. There have also been themed dress-up days, including PJ Day and a “teacher- student swap” where teachers dressed like students and students dressed like teachers. After school, students could participate in events like a volleyball tournament or even make slime. It’s been a fun and engaging week that’s really helped everyone reflect on and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Commissioner Galla from Prospect High School reported that they recently held their homecoming, which had a Vegas theme and was a lot of fun. The week included an assembly where distinguished alumni returned to speak to the students. There was also the football game and the powder toss event. Additionally, a fire drill took place yesterday, and it went smoothly without any issues. Commissioner Smith from Viator High School reported that homecoming is scheduled for next weekend. Their football team is currently 3-0, making for an exciting start to the season. Commissioner Borrel reported that she is a member of the League of Women Voters, and they are organizing mock elections. She has sent out emails to several schools, though many are not participating this year. In the past, the mock elections were held virtually, but this year they are planning to hold them in person, complete with voting booths. Commissioner Hafeez mentioned that if anyone is interested in walking for the American Heart Association, the event is happening this weekend. There are several locations and teams to choose from, and participants can join without having to fundraise. A few of the locations off the top of his head include one at Soldier Field tomorrow, another at the fairgrounds in Wheaton on Saturday, and a third in Aurora. It’s a great reminder to take steps for heart health. With September just around the corner, it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there will be plenty of walks for that as well. It’s a good idea to keep a calendar of these events to stay involved and support important causes. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Fall/Winter Project Chair Son and the Commission members discussed various volunteering opportunities, particularly those that could be brought to schools. Here are the key ideas they explored: Bringing Events to Schools: • Partnering with organizations to provide information and organize drives directly at schools. • Hosting a competition between schools to see which can donate the most items. • A Halloween costume-themed 1-day donation drive to encourage participation. 3 Page 5 of 8 Volunteer Ideas: 1. Forest Preserves • Organizing litter clean-up events or setting up welcome tables with refreshments to encourage teens to go into the woods and help with the cleanup. 2. Park District • Beautification programs, with schools competing in these initiatives. 3. 5K Walk/Run – “Love Your Brain”: • Held at Prospect High School, with volunteers needed to help run the event. This event would raise awareness about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). 4. Senior Living Centers: • Socializing with seniors, assisting them with technology, or hosting events like game nights or art nights. • Collecting oral histories from seniors. 5. Lobby Day: • Writing letters or focusing on causes for school groups that students are passionate about. Donation Drive & Packing Opportunities: • Good Neighbors Network: Collecting supplies for first-generation college students and food/meal programs for young people. • Feed My Starving Children: Volunteering at their Schaumburg location. • Lemons of Love: Packing care packages for cancer patients. • The Night Ministry: Gathering supplies for teens experiencing homelessness. • Journeys: Exploring a potential partnership to help homeless teens. • Volunteering could also include writing letters to businesses to request donations. The Commission put to a vote whether to proceed with the proposed donation drive, which could be structured either as a packing opportunity in collaboration with an established organization, or as a more traditional event-style initiative where the Commission would take on the responsibility of organizing and hosting the event directly. The Commission voted, with 6 votes in favor of the donation drive and 4 for the event- style approach. As a result, the donation drive has been approved. Chair Son mentioned that the next steps would be for the group to reach out to the identified organizations. Additionally, Chair Son will email the Commissioners to potentially rank the organizations. She also suggested that the group could research other organizations and consider reaching out to them as well. Furthermore, it would be helpful if members could volunteer their time to contact these organizations and determine who might be interested in collaborating. B. 2024 Voting Awareness Project Chair Son tabled this agenda item as she does not have many updates from the library's side. She mentioned that the Commission had expressed interest in providing a resource in the form of a flyer with a QR code to distribute at schools. If the library is able to create that flyer, Chair Son will share it with the Commissioners, who can then assist in distributing it. 4 Page 6 of 8 VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Snow Shoveling Referral Program Chair Son provided an overview of the snow shoveling referral program for the new Commissioners. The Youth Commission collaborates with the Senior Citizens' Commission and the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities to develop the snow shoveling referral program. Through this program, seniors can sign up to have their driveways and walkways shoveled, while teens can register to do the shoveling. It is a paid job for teens to shovel snow, but the program primarily functions as a referral service. Everyone signs up on a list, and staff at the Senior Center provide seniors with a copy of that list. Chair Son presented the flyer that was created several years ago and asked for the Commissioners' input on whether they wanted to update it. The Commissioners decided not to make any changes to the flyer. The challenge is that there are more seniors seeking services than available teen shovelers, so the Youth Commission will need to actively promote the program to recruit more teens. The Village of Arlington Heights will assist in promoting the program through social media. Chair Son suggested that the program might need an FAQ for teens, addressing questions such as how to discuss payment rates and other common concerns they may have. There was also a suggestion to incorporate the FAQ into the Google Form sign-up. There was also discussion about expanding both the snow shoveling and lawn mowing programs to include a leaf raking program. VII. OTHER BUSINESS A. Announcements / Correspondence None. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT None IX. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner McQuade, seconded by Commissioner Galla, moved to adjourn at 7:20 p.m. all concurred and the motion carried unanimously. 5 Page 7 of 8 Youth Commission 10/17/2024 Item: Teen Job Fair The Commission will start initial planning for the Teen Job Fair 2025. Department: Health & Human Services Item Description: ATTACHMENTS: None Page 8 of 8