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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11051996 - D14 D.14 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA DATE: November 5, 1996 MATTER OF RECORD SUBJECT: Bay Area Youth Vote '96 Julie Kefer, Chair, Countywide Youth Commission, reported to the Board of Supervisors on the goals and results of the Bay Area Youth Vote '96. Chairwoman Kefer described the project as a collaborative effort between the youth of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and San Francisco counties which endeavored to provide Bay Area youth with a voice and a foundation to implement change in their world. Chairwoman Kefer conveyed the Youth Commission's vision that the Bay Area Youth Vote '96 results be considered by elected officials in their policy decisions and thanked the Board members for their support. Michelle Balovich, Youth Vote '96 Coordinator, Clayton Valley High School, reported that 783 Clayton Valley students participated in Bay Area Youth Vote '96 and that the event was received with enthusiasm by both students and faculty. Ms. Balovich thanked the Board members for their assistance and support. Randi Cohen, Youth Vote '96 Coordinator, Northgate High School, reported that over 900 Northgate students participated in Bay Area Youth Vote '96 and it was a tremendous success. Ms. Cohen stated that the Youth Vote '96 event sparked student debate about the election issues and taught students about the election process. Ms. Cohen thanked the Board members for the opportunity and for their support. Heather Lichty, St. Patrick/St. Vincent High School, Vallejo, acknowledged her disappointment that the high school she attends, located in Solano County, did not participate in the Bay Area Youth Vote '96. Although she was not able to participate fully, Ms. Lichty expressed her appreciation to the Board members for sponsoring the tremendously successful event. Ms. Lichty stated her belief that the success of the event would help to dispel the myth that the youth of today are indifferent to the world around them. Tom Aswad, Adult Volunteer, and Cassandra Youngblood, Adult Volunteer, reported that the student participants in Youth Vote '96 took the voting process seriously and thanked the Board members for their support. Ms. Youngblood express her hope that the Youth Vote '96 results would be taken to the county and state levels to be considered, especially in decisions which impact youth. Valerie Matlock, Assistant, District IV Supervisor's Office, reported that Contra Costa County formed a partnership with three other counties and that 27,000 high school students participated in Bay Area Youth Vote '96. In Contra Costa County there were over 8,000 young people, at 11 high schools, who participated as constituents to officials at the local, county, state and federal levels. Ms. Matlock stated that the Countywide Youth Commission would utilize the results to help structure their plans for the future including: a youth policy for the County and possibly a joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors. Ms. Matlock urged the Board members and other politicians to consider the voice of the 27,000 youth in upcoming policy decisions. Ms. Matlock expressed her appreciation to the Board members, the volunteers, and the corporate, foundation and agency sponsors who helped make the Bay Area Youth Vote '96 possible. THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY NO BOARD ACTION TAKEN 1�