YES to student engagement

By Justin Cox

Summer. While many Sonoma teenagers were hanging with friends, taking vacations, or lounging in the sun, some local students put themselves to work by taking part in the third annual Youth Engagement Seminar at Sonoma Valley High School. 

A two-week seminar co-sponsored by the City of Sonoma, Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, SVHS, and the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, the two-week program teaches high school students about local government and civic engagement.  It is open to soon-to-be sophomores, juniors, and seniors. “Everything we did taught me a lot about government and how things operate,” described rising sophomore Gavin Rognlien. 

The 16 participating students staged mock City Council meetings, attended both a City Council meeting and a Town Hall meeting, and even participated in educational scavenger hunts on the Sonoma Plaza. The students also learned important social skills. “It taught me a lot about introductions and personal interaction,” said rising junior Yanell Velazquez. “I definitely think these skills will be helpful in my future with employment.” 

The program isn’t without monetary persuasion — each student is granted a $250 stipend courtesy of funding from the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation — but the stipend wasn’t the driving force for most attendees. As rising junior Fred Scott explained, “I wanted to take part in this program to gain more knowledge about the world around me. I also think Y.E.S. will provide me with good experience for future jobs.”

Among the many activities organized throughout the two weeks, one of particular importance to Y.E.S. adviser and SVHS Work-Based Learning Coordinator Wendy Swanson (pictured) was brainstorming aspects of Sonoma the students would like to change. Answers spanned from more burger places and activities for teens, to more job opportunities for the poor, and lessening  demographic separation in Sonoma Valley. “I wanted students to first think about what they wanted to change because through this program they are able to discover what they can do to make these changes happen,” she said.

The group even had the opportunity to speak with public officials capable of making some of these changes – Supervisor Susan Gorin (above), and Sonoma Mayor Amy Harrington.

To be accepted into the program, students went through an extensive application process which included a teacher letter of recommendation, an interview, and a formal application. 

Rising junior Meg Jernigan expressed her appreciation for the program.“This program has given me a lot of important tools for my future.” 

Justin Cox, SVHS class of 2019, will attend San Diego State University this fall to study journalism.