I have had the great honor to read 77 essays written by local middle school students for the Civics Bee competition. What I have learned, or what has been confirmed, is that kids have important things to say.
In my new position as Exec. Director of the Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce, I have the opportunity to host the Civics Bee, an annual, nationwide event. I love this b/c I believe that an intergenerational civic dialogue is absolutely vital to a well functioning society and must be cultivated.
The kids were asked to identify a problem in the community and explain how they would solve it. They wrote about problems that I also care about like bullying and violence in the schools, safe walking routes to school and around town, housing inequities and forest management, litter and environmental issues, ai and plagiarism, cultivating curiosity in the educational process, after school activities and clubs, discrimination at school, child care, health and wellness, and so much more.
They are paying attention and collectively they know the problems that need to be solved and they've got great ideas to move us all forward into a better future.
I believe it's up to us adults to instill in the youth the knowledge that these problems can be solved. That we can do it. That we hear them and we see that's it's worth doing.
We teach them by example, by taking the dialogue and the community needs seriously, by accepting no less than constant, collective improvement. We teach them to not become complacent and hopeless by celebrating together the possibilities and the successes that arise from robust civic dialogue.
Civic Dialogue is hard. People often disagree and that's ok and good and that's how important conversations go and it's important to learn how to do it. That is why I am so pleased to be able create a safe space to share ideas, be heard, be inspired and to think about next steps towards addressing the real needs of our community and meeting the needs of our times.
The top 20 finalists are now preparing for the live competition on April 14, 2024 at the Buena Vista Heritage Museum. The top 3 winners will go on to the statewide competition and the state winners go onto Washington, DC from there.
It's kind of a big deal and last year a BV student took second in the state! That student is back in the local top 20 again this year so the bar is high for the live competition!
This week, I invite you let a kid in your life know you hear them and respect their ideas. Be curious about something they are saying, or thinking, or feeling. Hide their phones and have a real conversation (haha) or in some way show them what's important to them, is important.
A+maZing! Congrats Zeta Charter Schools and Equitable Facilities Fund