As part of an expert panel during a Close Up Youth Summit on October 26, 2022, I spoke with students in the Virgin Islands from the Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean high schools. Along with the other panelists, I responded to many topics. They included youth and community issues from violence, mental health, juvenile recidivism, and child abuse. Others focused on education, health, infrastructure (use of actual buildings and regarding workforce development), to government and budget matters. The last was a question about, “What is the Government going to do about youth employment.” You can watch and listen to my response in the video below.
Additional hours were spent with them off panel answering that and other questions more fully. My impromptu response while sitting on the panel focused on taking self initiative. Self initiative before, during and often instead of depending on “the government.” I reminded them that government is made up of their own parents and the community in general.
While we sat and ate lunch together, other questions were asked. They asked what the lack of health infrastructure results in, causes of violence, recidivism, child abuse and more. This is my love… yes, one of them, I know.
My Takeaway
It felt like home to get some youth leadership mentorship back in action again since Sankofa Saturdays, Inc. closed its doors after 2017’s Hurricanes #IrMaria. We are hibernating and rejuvenating, but definitely not dead. We need more mentors VI. Where y’all at… the village must REunite. I’m reminded of who and why I am whenever I participate in programs like this.
Freedom’s Children Album Release Concert, Bohemian Caverns, Washington, D.C. (October 2011)
Video captured by Dr. Scott Heath
"...My children, Our children, Freedom’s Children Let us raise them up to rise above the shackles of tainted traditions, with humble hearts and stifled egos, so that they will sing and play for us, beautiful music, building and inspiring our community with each note nurtured, every word written, every syllable spoken… Dreaming big and loving hard with sincerity and a passion unfathomable Allow them into your homes of cultural heritage, so that they may innerstand Sankofa, teaching us the true art of activism, community love and upliftment. Freedom’s Children; Liberate us with your Love" From Freedom's Children, the poem by DaraMonifah
ABOUT CLOSE UP & THE VI YOUTH SUMMIT
The Close Up Foundation is partnering with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, for the 2022 U.S. Virgin Islands Youth Summit. The program brings together high school students to examine public policy issues affecting the islands. They then work together to develop recommendations to address those issues. Learn more about what they do here.
According to the program booklet, this week, students are giving voice to the issues THEY believe are most important to THEIR generation and to the USVI. They are investigating and researching those issues, questioning USVI opinion leaders and decision-makers, and developing an agenda of the top issues they want the Legislature of the Virgin Islands to focus on.
FRIDAY, they will share their recommendations for what the Legislature should do coming together in a final Summit Convention to review and discuss their Youth Agenda for Legislative Action.
Skills and knowledge that they build will help them become a potent force for leadership and change in our community, throughout the USVI and globally. The hope is that they leave this program with a better understanding of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the skills and attitudes of active citizenship, and new friendships to last a lifetime.
I WILL be there again on Friday when they present their ideas to members of the Legislature. I’m encouraging others to participate in the next and whatever types of youth engagement possible, especially if you could use some more HOPE for the Virgin Islands to keep you motivated.
Since it is election time, to see that we have so many critically thinking young people with interests in areas that will improve our home, I’m casting my vote with them in mind.
#REMEMBER2VOTE #mentor
