Youth Commission

1 2 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF A REGULARLY SCHEDULED 3 YOUTH COMMISSION MEETING 4 VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK 5 COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 6 September 21, 2016 7 “Lead, Serve, Shine” 8 9 Adult Commissioners Present (5) 10 Carla Slawson-Martens, Chairperson 11 David Whitlock 12 Kelli Christenson 13 Jodie Dinelli 14 Emmeline Hazaray 15 16 Student Commissioners Present (9) 17 Lucia Bosacoma 18 Marco Bosacoma 19 Brandon Mankoff 20 Joey Martens 21 Emily Sedlak 22 Samuel Shin 23 Jennifer Shin 24 Eli Traub 25 Hannah Whitlock 26 27 Adult/Student Commissioners Absent (7) 28 Gary Moriello 29 Nelson Bosacoma 30 Bianca Osinski 31 Danny Brodson 32 Jessica Bresler 33 Kieley Anderson 34 Cecilia Calise 35 36 Village Staff Present (2) 37 Sarah Gianni, Staff Liaison 38 Gale Cerabona, Recorder 39 40 Others Present (1) 41 Jack Ferber, Potential YC Member 42 43 1. Call to Order 44 Chairperson Slawson-Martens elected then Commissioner L. Bosacoma volunteered to be this evening’s 45 Student Chair. Commissioner Bosacoma called the meeting to order in the Terrace Room of Village Hall, 46 1225 Cedar Lane, at 7:02 p.m. A quorum was present. 47 48  Page 2 Minutes of the August 17, 2016 Youth Commission Meeting 1 2. Approval of Meeting Minutes 2 Commissioner D. Whitlock moved, seconded by Commissioner Christenson, to approve the YC meeting 3 minutes of April 20 & August 21, 2016. On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried. 4 5 3. Hear from the Audience 6 There was no Hear from the Audience. 7 8 Chairperson Slawson-Martens & Staff Liaison Gianni advised that everyone would like to honor Kay Stein 9 at the next meeting for her years of service on the YC. 10 11 4. Review “Expected Outcomes” from last meeting 12  2016-17 Calendar Goals: learn, brainstorm, reach out for more members 13 14 Chairperson Slawson-Martens reminded the YC of these goals as well as those below. 15 16 5. Planning/Discussion/Action Items 17  Hear reports from Commissioners who have attended Village Board or CRC meetings 18 19 Individuals are still working on their schedules to attend the above. Staff Liaison Gianni 20 suggested taking notes and sharing same with the YC. 21 22 Commissioner Dinelli advised the CRC meetings are at the Northbrook Public Library on the first 23 Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. 24 25  Meet new and potential YC members 26 27 Chairperson Slawson-Martens asked if anyone reached out to recruit new members. 28 Commissioner S. Shin advised he had and introduced his sister, Jennifer Shin, which everyone 29 welcomed. 30 31 At 7:14 p.m., Commissioners H. Whitlock & Sedlack arrived along with potential YC member, 32 Jack Ferber. 33 34  Determine date, planning & promotion for Institute for Civility workshop 35 36 Chairperson Slawson-Martens updated and described where the YC is regarding having a voice 37 for youth in the community (perhaps hosting a Youth Forum, etc.). She advised a conference call 38 will take place this evening at 7:45 p.m. Ms. Cassandra Dahnke, Founder of the Institute for 39 Civility, will share how to work more effectively with leaders, youth, etc. in public arenas. A 40 workshop and date are yet to come (could include others). Cost is $50 per person. 41 42 Chairperson Slawson-Martens advised the Institute for Civility program focuses on skills 43 (listening, hearing, active listening); dialoging more effectively with each other. She read a 44 synopsis. The intent is to provide that youth voice with the right approach. 45 46 47  Page 3 Minutes of the August 17, 2016 Youth Commission Meeting 1 Commissioner Dinelli advised of the Northbrook Caucus (group of citizens that interviews 2 potential applicants for civic positions). She noted members of the Caucus must be registered 3 voters. Participation was suggested as a learning experience. Staff Liaison Gianni will review 4 further and advise. 5 6 Chairperson Slawson-Martens asked if others should attend the Institute of Civility workshop; 7 there are 40 slots to fill. Staff Liaison Gianni suggested youth be involved. Chairperson Slawson- 8 Martens recommended inviting Student Presidents/Leaders at GBN. Commissioner Hazaray 9 advocated promoting this to youth via the newspaper. Staff Liaison Gianni proposed that the 10 press attend. Commissioner Sedlak added that members of GBN clubs could attend as well as 11 sports captains. Commissioner D. Whitlock suggested the YC takes the course first and evaluate 12 same, then at a future date perhaps offer it to others. 13 14 Content of the workshop was discussed and perhaps tailoring, reducing the time frame. 15 Commissioner Hazaray reminded that videos may also be shown so reducing the time may not 16 prove effective. 17 18 Regarding cost and perhaps co-sponsorship, Chairperson Slawson-Martens stated GBN used to 19 pay for the Police & Firemen BBQ. 20 21 Commissioner Brodson arrived at 7:37 p.m. 22 23 Discussion took place on timing and preferred day of week for the workshop. Consensus was 24 Sunday is appealing; December 4th or 11th were proposed. 25 26 Ms. Cassandra Dahnke was conferenced in at 7:45 p.m. Chairperson Slawson-Martens asked for 27 a synopsis which Ms. Dahnke offered. She noted the organization began in 1998 and is non- 28 profit. A motto is “governing together” (negotiating agreements many places). Civility is an 29 essential piece of that process; having basic civility skills. The training goes beyond good 30 manners and being polite. It means staying respectful and present. 31 32 Ms. Dahnke advised the program is highly interactive: 33  Understanding belief systems 34  Listening & communication skills (helps self-identify strengths & weaknesses) 35  Teamwork (how to perform this successfully) 36  Individuals’ responsibility (where you go from here); Institute offers student legislative 37 programs 38 39 Staff Liaison Gianni asked if there is an emphasis on dialog. Ms. Dahnke stated this will give the 40 skills how to dialog (listening, communication); shared language will help deescalate and move 41 forward. Examples were provided on other youth groups/schools. She shared that one group 42 took away empowerment from the workshop and is now providing ideas to the Texas 43 legislature. An award and a $10 million grant was bestowed. Ms. Dahnke noted there are trips 44 to Washington, DC from 12-60 people; ideal size is 30-40 people. 45 46 47  Page 4 Minutes of the August 17, 2016 Youth Commission Meeting 1 Chairperson Slawson-Martens inquired about a 4-hour session. Ms. Dahnke shared that during 2 the session, everything keeps changing; like 4 small workshops during the entire session. 3 4 Commissioner L. Bosacoma asked if two 2-hour sessions could be done. Ms. Dahnke advised it is 5 possible however the cost will increase; momentum would be lost. Commissioner Bosacoma 6 then asked if the program changes with a mixed adult and youth group. Ms. Dahnke responded 7 there will be enrichment from different perspectives. In various sessions, teams are gathered. 8 9 Commissioner Whitlock asked how this work prepares attendees (youth) with contentious 10 issues. Ms. Dahnke stated it will give everyone better listening and communication skills (for all 11 avenues of life). Being effective with tackling these issues will come from these skills, creative 12 approaches, and confidence. 13 14 Chairperson Slawson-Martens thanked Ms. Dahnke for enlightening the YC. Ms. Dahnke 15 expressed how impressed she is with this YC. The conference call ended at 8:04 p.m. 16 17 Commissioner L. Bosacoma asked what the attendees do. Chairperson Slawson-Martens stated 18 this program has been developed and noted checking the web site for specifics at 19 www.instituteforcivility.org . Discussion took place on promoting the workshop to others. 20 Chairperson Slawson-Martens will follow up with Ms. Dahnke to see if attendees would receive 21 a certificate. She stated her wish is that attendees carry these skills in their (youth) future lives. 22 Commissioner Hazaray recommended inquiring to other attendees or groups who have already 23 participated in the workshop to learn their experiences. 24 25 Commissioner Brodson suggested asking other Villages/Youth Commissions to join us. 26 Chairperson Slawson-Martens recommended asking the CRC to join the YC in this program; 27 Commissioner Hazaray concurred. Staff Liaison Gianni proposed inviting the Student Association 28 (S.A.) Board (elected representatives). Commissioner Brodson reminded there is Leadership Day. 29 30 Commissioner Brodson moved, seconded by Commissioner Hazaray, to ask GBN leaders as well 31 as class members and other Youth Commissions in other Villages to participate in the Institute 32 for Civility workshop. Commissioner Sedlak amended that GBN leaders be asked first then the 33 CRC be asked to join the YC in this program. Commissioners Brodson & Hazaray accepted the 34 amendment. 35 36 Discussion took place. Marco Bosacoma stated he likes the idea of interacting with students and 37 adults. Staff Liaison Gianni agrees with reaching out to the CRC. It was suggested to invite the 38 Northbrook Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board. 39 40 Commissioner Whitlock reminded December is approaching so a focus on specific invitees 41 (respective groups) is necessary. He suggested the S.A. Board and the class boards. Another 42 approach is for each YC member to bring a friend. 43 44 On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried. 45 46 47  Page 5 Minutes of the August 17, 2016 Youth Commission Meeting 1 2  Discuss Youth Forum topic ideas 3 4 Chairperson Slawson-Martens advised Youth Forum topics will be discussed next month. She 5 stated an email will follow regarding a December date for the workshop. 6 7 6. General Discussion 8  School News 9 10 Commissioner Brodson stated there is a movement that parents want to end “Open Lunch” at 11 GBN. 12 13 7. Next Meeting 14 The next YC meeting is scheduled for October 19, 2016. Commissioner Traub volunteered to be Student 15 Chair. 16 17 8. Adjournment 18 Commissioner H. Whitlock moved, seconded by Commissioner M. Bosacoma, to adjourn the meeting at 19 8:33 p.m. On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried. 20 21 Respectfully Submitted, 22 23 24 25 Gale Cerabona 26 Recorder