People Editor
Los Gatos Mayor Rob Moore and his team of five interns invited local students from all over Santa Clara County to participate in his Youth Town Hall event on May 17, an event that had been in the making for three months. This occasion was designed to be a gathering for all ages 13-20 to connect with each other and local experts to learn and discuss issues pertinent to that age group.
The gathering began with a panel discussion involving prominent figures, including Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Bido Baines, El Camino Health Vice President of Operations; Dr. Karina Kloos, Executive Director of the Stanford Democracy Hub; Patrick Ahrens, California State Assembly member; and LGHS student advocate, Nova Jayaraj. Discussions ranged from Kloos describing the dangers of apathy in a democracy to Jayaraj speaking about her extensive involvement in activism. When panelists were asked how they approached problem-solving and persevered through hardship, Wozniak recommended always thinking of solutions while grappling with issues, and Ahren suggested remembering the rationale behind what you choose to do and be a part of.
After lunch, the students and speakers were split up into seven breakout groups. Each section tackled a different subject: government, healthcare, finance, education, climate, social justice, and technology. LGHS junior Georgina Cobb was one of the facilitators for the government breakout group, where Kloos advocated for using research to inform policies and practices, while Los Gatos Assistant Town Manager Katy Nomura spoke of how to disagree and argue in a constructive manner. At the end of the discussion, Cobb gave students some advice: “Adults want to help us get involved; you just have to take the first step and introduce yourself.”
The event ended with local institutions and clubs setting up booths for students to walk by and visit. The lineup included the LGHS House of Hope Club, Grassroots Ecology, the Owed Soap nonprofit, Open Space Authority, and the Silicon Valley Wildlife Group. Students interacted with booth representatives and learned about local organizations and their advocacy efforts, with many of them focusing on preserving California’s ecosystems.
With over 200 students attending and such strong panelists, Mayor Moore’s first-ever Youth Town Hall was a significant success. For any adolescents looking to get inspired and involved, keep an eye out for next year’s event.
Categories: Local News, News, School News