KWHS Social Studies educators worked to develop the opportunity, in collaboration with Youth Council Advisor Elissa Ruckle, as an extension of the exceptional work they’re doing to engage and educate the future leaders of our community on the importance and power of civic engagement.
The Casper Youth Council works to spark interest in City and County Government and provide local youth a voice in the shaping of the community. The Casper Youth Council provides youth with the opportunities to better understand the various processes and departments of city government while gaining knowledge and insight on important community issues. Most importantly, the Casper Youth Council creates an accessible channel for open communication between the Casper City Council, youth, and community. (www.casperyouthcouncil.org)
CYC member, Mason Napier, discussed a recent opportunity to participate in the Wyoming Business Council, which he affectionately dubbed “the Civic & Economic Avengers,” with leaders from around the state discussing ideas around the use of ARPA funds. “The amount of opportunity that CYC gives us is absolutely incredible. A lot of what we (Mason and Bryce - CYC Members) touched on was infrastructure needs and youth inclusivity. We are at a turning point in our city of Casper; we have to address these issues now.”
During the forum, City Manager Carter Napier, NCHS student and CYC member Mason Napier, Councilmember Pollock, and Councilmember Gamroth shared some recent and upcoming items and issues impacting Casper. City Manager Napier took students on a journey through time as he reflected on the last time he was in Kelly Walsh High School in the ’90s, fondly remembering some needed construction updates at that time and calling the current school “a leading building for high school’s in the mountain west.” Discussing city facilities and construction processes over the years, Napier shared that many of Casper’s current city facilities were constructed in the ’80s and acknowledged the work ahead as the city looks to strategically improve city buildings and infrastructures while being committed to remaining fiscally responsible and continuing to engage and listen to the community, “We are at that point in our communities history, we have to have answers, and fortunately, we have really good people on City Council who are willing to have these conversations, entertain the thought process, and work together with the community on what we are going to do next.”
The broader discussion of the hour, however, focused more heavily on the critical importance of young people having an active voice and opportunity for engagement in government and their community.
Councilmember Pollock shared her appreciation for the creation of advisory councils, “I’m really excited to have a Youth Council, it’s a great tool that the City Council has to plug into your demographic and understand your perspective as we continue to make decisions. The more information we can gather from different demographics, the better decisions we can make. It’s important to us to get your input and feedback and your perspective, so as we are working towards our goals, we can make sure we have the right vision for Casper in mind.”
Councilmember Gamroth highlighted for the students the power behind ideas, actions, and engagement in the community at all ages, “The importance of committed people organizing around a specific idea or a specific goal, Casper is such an awesome place for that, and there is so much potential here. Even a small group of engaged citizens can do cool, powerful things. David Street Station is an excellent example; it started with 12-15 people who wanted to see it happen...they organized, they came up with ideas, and because of the dedication and perseverance of those folks, we have this incredible facility.”
A power hour of sorts, the forum's energy was electric with a genuine spark of interest and excitement from students in attendance. The true essence of what CYC is about, students jumped at the opportunity to ask questions of the guests regarding the issues of youth leaving the community, suicide and drug abuse in the community, youth engagement, and more. “Youth are the future of our community – from workforce to business owners to community leaders,” shared Casper Youth Council Advisor Elissa Ruckle. “Our vision for CYC is to provide opportunities for Casper’s youth to have a voice in and contribute to the shaping of our community; to have active, ongoing participation in local city government and community-related issues.”