Our unapproved minutes/notes from the meeting last week: SOAR Working Group: Leadership Development and Youth Engagement Committee Meeting Thursday April 24, 2014 Committee Members Present: Johnathan Gay (Chair), Tammie Wilson, Ivy Brashear, Allison Ball, Delaney Stephens, Kevin Smith, Joel Brashear, Stephanie Richards, Marty Myers, Amy Stroud, Terry Gray. Guests: Jack Herlihy Upike Wilma Davis Bell County Community Education Gina Johnson Kelly Wilson Bath County Schools/Chamber Sarah Gaudinier EKU Sula Jacobs Cumberland Gap Nat. Historical Park Brent Hutchinson Hindman Settlement School Robert Gipe Southeast KY Community & Tech College Sarah Schmitt KY Arts Council Ryan Watts EKU Vickie Moberly EKU George Gallien EKU Delorus Dalton Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber Yvonne Lovell KY Council on Postsecondary Education Hanna Gabbard V.P of YLPI Robin Gabbard Foundation for Appalachian KY Robert Donnan Invision Hazard Ray Tucker KFTC Karen Cook KCA Bill Braden KCA Steven Taylor KASC Rodney Wolfenbarger Brushy Fork Institute - Berea College Chris Stigall Young Professionals of Lake Cumberland Jenna Corum Clay County Attorney Office Rebecca Koury St. Paul Mission Pamela Milligan KCEOC Community Action Lynn Stephenson KCEOC Community Action Suzie Thompson Leadership McCreary County Lisa Ball Leadership McCreary County Whitney Tucker Leadership McCreary County Chairperson, Johnathan Gay, kicked off the meeting by welcoming committee members and guests to the first official SOAR workgroup meeting for Leadership Development and Youth Engagement. Chairperson Gay made it clear that moving forward, all meetings will be open to the public for anyone who is interested in participating. Mr. Gay also noted that a very big challenge exist with this working group. The three main audiences that the Leadership Development and Youth Engagement working group will be targeting is K-12 (primarily 9-12), post-secondary institutions, and young professionals within the region (under 40). These groups encompass a large and significant audience with Eastern Kentucky. Introductions were made around the room for committee members, as well as guests who attended the workgroup meeting. As noted in the attendance record, a diverse group of individuals representing education institutions, nonprofits, and local and state government were present for the meeting. As introductions concluded, Mr. Gay noted that his work with entrepreneurs and small businesses within the region point to the fact that more needs to be done to foster an entrepreneurial culture with youth if the region is going to build next generation leaders. Mr. Gay posed the question, “How do we get organized”? An important step to the formation and actual work of the group is creating an efficient mechanism in which work will progress in the coming months. Each of the 10 SOAR Working Groups are responsible for making 3-5 key recommendations to the SOAR Executive Committee for further action. These recommendations must have significant buy-in from the committee, guests, and other key stakeholders within the region. Feedback is crucial from all interested parties. In order for the working group to move forward, Chairperson Gay proposed three sub-committees that will be responsible for asset mapping, stakeholder input, and extensive public engagement throughout the region. The three sub-committees are: 1. Youth Engagement and Participation - How do we create the mechanisms to ensure long term involvement on the part of our youth from their teenage years all the way through their initial careers as young professionals? A possible solution and recommendation for this is creating a “representative body” that can continuously engage youth around the region and serve as a voice for youth and young professionals. 2. Entrepreneurship and Technology - What specific recommendations can we make regarding these vital areas/tools that empower our youth? How can we create opportunities for youth so that they can create opportunities for themselves? 3. Arts, Heritage, Nature, and Agriculture - What specific recommendations can we make regarding these key quality of life (and economic development) issues that will keep young people in the region? Young people should be encouraged and nurtured to understand the many cultural and agricultural assets in Eastern Kentucky, and should be prepared to understand how these areas are very relevant to tourism and economic development. Mr. Gay also proposed that each of these sub-committees would go out into the region and do their work individually, while still engaging and working with the other sub-committees. They would then reconvene with the Working Group to discuss key findings and to make key recommendations. Each sub-committee will need to prioritize their recommendations and include as much information as possible in each recommendation. The final report to the SOAR Executive Committee will not only include key recommendations but, it will include a report on findings, engagement efforts, and other pertinent information. Chairperson Gay invites the committee to discuss his proposal, and then will open the discussion to the public and guests. Ivy Brashear (MACED) notes that the sub-committee structure works nicely and will allow the working group to progress efficiently. Mr. Gay also notes that any criticisms or other ideas are encouraged. Terry Gray (EKU Manchester) defers to Delaney Stephens (The Center) to discuss how The Center’s focus on youth engagement fits in with the sub-committees proposed by Chairperson Gay. Mr. Stephens opens with a strong support, and need, for entrepreneurship education within the K-12 education system. He notes that a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Eastern Kentucky must include a significant investment in entrepreneurship education. Mr. Stephens also mentions that in order to keep talented youth in the region, they must be engaged as early as possible (middle, high school) so that they have more invested in their local communities. Any programs or recommendations that are developed from this working group should focus on a broad spectrum of students, not just the top performers. Tammie Wilson (PRIDE) concurs with Mr. Stephens, and also makes a key point that middle school and high school may be too late to start engaging youth with this working group. She recommends also focusing on elementary aged school children, especially as it relates to entrepreneurship and leadership development. PRIDE has been working in the region for 17 years, and they begin engaging youth with environmental education opportunities as early as the third grade. Stephanie Richards (UK Cooperative Extension, Pike County) adds that the Pike County Collaborative Theater has seen a benefit of creating a community in Pike County where students participate with the co-op and choose to return to the area after they graduate from college. Many of these students also attend the University of Pikeville and choose to remain in the area for their higher education training. Students see the benefit of staying engaged, even after secondary education. Guest (gentleman from ?): In terms of structure, each sub-committee should be sure to include each demographic/constituency that was mentioned in Chairperson Gay’s opening remarks. If the sub-committees include each constituency then the final reports and recommendations will be balanced in terms of audiences represented and served. Guest notes that young professionals often get left out of the conversation when talking about leadership development and participation. Guest (Kelly Wilson – Bath County?): Ask the question of where leadership and “training” fit in each sub-committee. She notes that many current leaders in her community may not know how to engage youth. She notes that those leaders should be taught how to engage young people. Chairperson Gay notes that that is an excellent point, and that two of the three sub-committees do address “skill” development. Robin Gabbard (Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky) adds to Tammie Wilson’s point that early ages should not be left out and this idea has been proven through established programs such as PRIDE and GEAR UP - prime examples of engaging youth at an early age. One group Mrs. Gabbard is representing is the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Perry County. The YPI looks to nurture young people and provide leadership development opportunities for youth that may not have as many opportunities as “top performing students”. The key is to find and retain youth who are able to make a difference in their community. An important factor in this goal is to teach young people about their hometown and home region of Eastern Kentucky. The Youth Philanthropy Initiative also aims to put a young person on non-profit board in Perry County so that these individuals learn about leadership, communication skills, and how to be accountable in the real world. Bridging the gap is also important in terms of establishing a “bridge” between the age differences of each constituency (K-12, higher education, and young professionals) – community partnerships are key. Another model program that Mrs. Gabbard mentions is the youth group “Student Voices” which is a group of young people associated with the Prichard Committee and serves as a policy advocate for education related issues. Terry Gray (EKU Manchester) notes that he often finds high school students saying they plan to leave town after graduation. Many times, young people do have to leave town to get their post-secondary education, but should be encouraged to return. Mr. Gray thinks a leadership component should be strongly considered and incorporated into school curriculum. Providing students with “leadership certificates” enables them to see their value and how they can help their hometowns thrive and prosper through engagement. Rodney Wolfenbarger (Berea – Brushy Fork Institute) – involving youth meaningfully allow young people to learn leadership through practice. Young people need to see the relevance between leadership development and then taking ownership for those leadership skills. Many youth have the opportunity to go through great programs but then have the tendency to become disengaged as a young professional. We must find a way to provide a long-term pathway to integrate young leaders in their community. Guest: How do we find a way to get behind young people and support them, not dragging them into a process they are not familiar with? Young people should learn to lead by leading. We should not just train young people, but we should set them up for success. Bill Braden (KY Counseling Association) – Would like to expand leadership opportunities for students and young professionals, possibly through an online process. Mr. Braden also notes that this long-term leadership goal begins early but lasts through young professionals. Johnathan Gay recaptures several comments made about the sub-committees from guest. A key concern is to include all discussions, values, and recommendations even if they do not make it as a “top 5” recommendation that will be forwarded to the SOAR Executive Committee. Each sub-committee will need to log and record all relevant information so that the working group can effectively report on what it has found through regional discussions and engagement. Mr. Gay feels that youth engagement and participation is a top priority sub-committee: figuring out the mechanisms for engaging youth on a continual basis and having them at the table. Joel Brashear – Thinking about the arts, culture, heritage, agriculture as a mechanism to engage youth with regional assets. Many youth have the perception that there is “nothing here”, but we may not be doing a good enough job showing youth all the cultural assets we have. Stephanie Richards – Arts, culture, theater, etc. is just the vehicle for teaching kids life skills. How do we create value for young people to want to stay? Let’s show kids how to celebrate what we have in the region. Ivy Brashear – All sub-committees are important but may be covered by other workgroup committees already. Feels that youth engagement, leadership, and participation are key and encompass all other ideas/proposals included in the workgroup. Mr. Gay adds that the workgroup committee is tasked with creating the structure, so each sub committee will ensure representation and initiatives that are primarily about youth engagement. Sub-committees will help narrow the focus (toward youth engagement). Guest: Recognizing where we are. A profile of what each county currently has in terms of leadership development opportunities for youth and young people. A task for getting youth engaged is making sure to include all young people, not just the top performers. It would help to have a “visual” profile for each county so that a model can be created for further development. Also, there needs to be an organization that helps teach current leaders how to implement leadership development and engagement curriculum to young people. Johnathan Gay – one key effort is asset mapping. Amy Stroud – Entrepreneurship and Technology sub-committee is very important, but need to be sure to include younger audience (middle school). Ms. Stroud would also like to see young people learn how to support and become engaged with an entrepreneurial friendly community. Delaney Stephens adds that entrepreneurship isn’t just about learning how to write a business plan and start a business. Entrepreneurship education teaches critical thinking skills, problem solving, etc. Entrepreneurship education is key to creating an overall entrepreneurship ecosystem. Ray Tucker – concerned about building silos within each sub-committee. The working group needs to make sure to integrate all recommendations into the working group report. Would like to see every kid in Appalachia have 2 years of public service. Deloris Dalton – youth advisory board? Youth need to have a seat at the table. Stephen Taylor – We need to have input from youth before figuring out what is in their best interests. Guest – the overall structure and recommendations should include “principles” that guide the working group. Johnathan Gay asks the committee to consider his proposal. Allison Ball motions to approve the sub-committees. Delaney Stephens 2nds the motion. All committee members approve. Chairperson Gay proposes sub-committee chairs: Allison Ball and Kevin Smith for Youth Engagement and Participation Delaney Stephens and Amy Stroud for Entrepreneurship and Technology Stephanie Richards and Joel Brashear for Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Agriculture Chairperson Gay invites committee members and public to discuss. No discussion. Tammie Wilson makes motion to approve the sub-committee co-chairs. Terry Gray 2nds the motion. All committee members approve. Moving Forward: Each sub-committee will be responsible for reporting back to main working group. The co-chairs will be responsible for convening meetings, recording discussions, and reporting findings to the working group. The full committee will need to meet at least once a month. Sub-committees will need to rapidly connect with people – fact-finding missions and asset mapping. Meeting Adjourned.
Posted on: Fri, 02 May 2014 15:37:11 +0000
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