Students, local government officials, and elders discussed civic engagement on Nov. 5 at the Pine River Public Library, what it is and how to promote it.
The event was organized by the Colorado Civic Health Network, which promotes the need for broad civic engagement as a part of democracy, with a focus on youth from preschool to age 20. A similar meeting was held that day in Durango, with other meetings scheduled around the state.
Several Bayfield Middle School and High School students, teachers, and counselors attended.
Meeting facilitator Jan Brennan said 70.4 percent of registered voters in Colorado turned out for the last presidential election, but turnout was less than half that for young voters, age 18 to early 30s.
She described civic engagement as everything from volunteering, to holding a leadership role in some community group, contacting a public official, attending a public meeting, to exchanging favors with a neighbor.
Colorado ranks 46th out of the 50 states on that last one, Brennan said, "but that might not represent Bayfield."
Around 20 states have surveyed participation in these activities. "These are things they think make for a strong community," Brennan said. Colorado ranked 12th on volunteering and holding a leadership role,
"There's a question of do you trust your neighbors?," she continued. "We want people to be actively engaged, willing and able to make contributions to improve their community. You have to know how the system works. A lot of that is civic education in schools, but the statistics on that aren't very impressive."
She noted civics isn't tested the same as the core subjects that schools are rated on.
A sense of empowerment, of being able to make a difference, is another aspect of civic engagement, she said.
Audience member Brian Firkin described himself as a Millennial who is very engaged. He said there are a lot of distractions that could reduce participation.
BHS student Lenka Doskocil said some families don't have the resources they need.
Brennan listed practices that are part of civic engagement: rich instruction in government, history, law, and democracy, more than memorizing facts and dates; classroom discussion of current issues and events, especially those that students view as important to their lives; community service opportunities for students to apply what they've learned; extracurricular activities in the school or community; meaningful participation in school governance; and participation in simulations of democratic processes and procedures.
Brennan had participants break into small groups for discussion of several questions. They listed local opportunities for youth engagement, such as school and town rec sports, 4-H, after school programs at the library and the Pine River Church, and Bayfield Family Center programs. Mayor Rick Smith said he has gone to the schools to talk about government. Sarah Wortis said she takes her kids along when she does door-to-door political canvassing. Also mentioned were the Bayfield Marshal's Office police academy, the School Resource Officer, and the Be FRANK Foundation with music education and outdoor activities.
Youth engagement would include students having a voice in the community, school counselor Cindy Ryan said. Several participants liked the idea of a youth advisory committee to interact with local officials.
Library board member Cheryl Clay commented that the community has a lot of things for young families with children, "but what happens when kids are ready to launch" and go out on their own? "And when they come back (from higher education), is there a spot for them to live and work and have a decent wage? Or do they have to go elsewhere?"
Smith cited internships with local businesses, a job connection that young adults could come back to. "Our two kids couldn't come back because there were no jobs," he said. "That opportunity is probably gone, because they are entrenched where they are."
BHS senior Ariel Fender said she has an internship at the preschool and also with first graders. "I want to be a teacher," she said. "I want to go to college here. I've fallen in love with all the kids. That definitely weighted my decision." She wanted more business or school internships, "so if (graduates) leave for college, it's not so hard to come back." She also suggested "a youth voice with the town council."
Ryan wanted internships here rather than in Durango.
Wortis wanted a way to get elementary school kids more involved in the community. She lamented lack of neighborliness in her Bayfield neighborhood and suggested some sort of community engagement festival.
Smith said, "When we started youth baseball here, we started (kids) and passed them through. When our kids got to high school, we made them the coaches for the little kids. They learned patience. Why can't we apply that across the board? Bring youth to the Senior Center. Those are the people who know more about this area than you could ever shake a stick at. ... The key thing is teaching self-responsibility. You are responsible for yourself and also to your community, to give back to it."
Clay said, "Who do I call when I have a computer problem? My grandkids. There's a natural give and take. In a community our size, that's where community really happens.
Firkin said students need civic, gun safety and financial literacy education. "I'm still paying off my loan from 10 years ago," he said.
Town trustee Rachel Davenport supported the idea of a youth advisory board, with "an expectation that this would include finding solutions, not just naming problems."
Library Director Shelley Walchak said the library will do a series on civic engagement, with discussion of things like gun control, "topics that aren't going to be easy to discuss." She stressed the library's potential to promote civic engagement.
Town Manager Chris La May commented, "To some extent, I think the adults need to lead by example."
A civic engagement survey is available on-line at www.surveymonkey.com/r/coengage.
