04-14-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 14, 2003 for the elementary and middle school youth. This is an opportunity to capture future leaders and to prepare them for all of the things that they will be doing in the community. They will also be prepared to become future Common Council members. Ms. Ellis advised that the South Bend Community School Corporation will be most cooperative in providing support for this initiative and Councilmembers will have access to students in order to carry out youth advisory activities. They will assist in identifying and referring and supporting the Youth Advisory participants and look forward to working in collaboration with Councilmembers White and Pfeifer and all of the Councilmembers to make this initiative a success. She commended and applauded the efforts ofthe Council and asked that this matter be brought to a positive success. Mr. Dennis Staffelbach, 1512 Hass Drive, South Bend, Indiana, Teacher and Dean of Boys, Trinity School, recounted his career beginning as a teacher at Trinity School and later being an attorney. He noted that after practicing law for many years he decided that his original vocation working with young people provided more opportunities to help make a little corner of the world a better place. He advised that one important thing that he has learned in his years of teaching is that young people want to be given responsibility. They want to be challenged in a serious way. Given that challenge, they will usually rise to the highest expectations. However, if great things are expected from the youth, then they must be provided with opportunities for greatness. For this reason, he stated that he is thankful to this Council and especially Council President White for actively seeking significant and meaningful ways in which area high school students cannot only voice their concerns but contribute to the decision making process. A process that so significantly affects the future of everyone. Mr. Staffelbach encouraged the Council to vote in favor of this bill. Mr. Josh Lowe, 735 South Twyckenham Drive, South Bend, Indiana, representing Trinity School, advised that he hopes to represent the South Bend youth as a whole and thanked the Council for their consideration of a Youth Advisory Council. He noted that it is his understanding that the goal of the Council would be to improve conditions for all of the residents of South Bend by allowing its youth to be heard. Mr. Lowe stated that he sees the Youth Council opening many opportunities for the young people of South Bend. The opportunities to have a voice in the City will insure continued participation in decisions that affect all citizens for a long time to come. It will enable them to bridge the gap between inherent stereotypes and the truth. The youth and adults need to see each others views as valid, well thought out and pertinent to all not just to their own group. It would also allow each representative to become aware of and sensitive to a different group of their peers that they may otherwise not have the chance to experience. This also leads to a better future for all with better understanding and the possibility of greater acceptance and cooperation in the years to come. A Youth Advisory Council holds the promise of hope. Hope for making improvements in what they do, how they think and what they can do as a community. Mr. Lowe asked that the youth be allowed to have a voice in the community through the Youth Advisory Council. Mr. Gab Duttlinger, Sophomore, Trinity High School, 2984 Jamestown Court North, Mishawaka, Indiana, thanked the Council for this opportunity to speak in favor of the establishment of a Youth Advisory Council which he thinks is a great idea. He indicated that the Youth Council will benefit the City and the youth as South Bend's youth have a vital role to play in the community. Having representation will inspire in youth a greater interest and involvement in the care and development of the City and he hopes that the Common Council will find the Youth Advisory Council to be a valuable source of insight, ideas and practical assistance in the Common Council's efforts to make South Bend a great place to live and work. i