On Tuesday, February 25, the City of Newton held its first-ever Newton Civic Spotlight event at City Hall.
The event, aimed at local middle and high school students, featured a resource fair showcasing local organizations as well as panel discussions exploring the nuances of local government and issues facing the community. Dozens of students attended, even though it had been promoted on social media for only five days before.
Panelists included a variety of community members, including Newton officials. Discussions centered around the topics of municipal government, the justice system, mental health, substance use, and the environment.
Meri Haas, Assistant Director of Human Services for the City, said that her experience working with the Newton Youth Commission, its advisory board, and the City’s Youth and Young Adult Services program inspired her to organize the event.
“I have heard repeatedly how Newton youth want to engage more with their local government and learn about opportunities to support their local community. I thought that some sort of youth civic event would be important,” she said. “I advertised the event-planning opportunity, and about 25 Newton high school students offered to help.”
For those student organizers, spreading the word about local government is a real passion.
When Victor Lock, a junior at Newton South HS, first heard about the event, he knew he wanted to get involved. He said that he thinks it is crucial for young people to be informed about the inner workings of local government.
“Getting to know how your government works is really interesting,” he said. “A lot of young people ask, ‘Oh, how come governments work like this, this, or this?’ Getting to know the process from a very rudimentary level is a strong foundation for those who want to pursue it in the future.”
Newton South sophomore and student organizer Bomi Woo said that it is essential for all students to expand their knowledge of civics beyond what they learn in class.
“We’ve done [civics] that we learned in history, but we’re not properly educated on how we should actually get involved and how we should actually have a voice,” she said.
Newton South freshman Ade St Cine agreed. He said that taking time to understand the intricacies of local government is important to him.
“School doesn’t give you the most comprehensive education on civics and other resources,” he said. “I’m very passionate about working [to promote] the best experience of cities.”
The event’s resource fair featured a panel of City Councilors, allowing Newton students to engage with their representatives in local government.
City Council President and mayoral candidate Marc Laredo was one of many City Councilors present at the event. He said that he is glad that Newton youth got the chance to connect with local officials.
“It’s wonderful. Students get the opportunity to talk to folks on the City Council to learn more about what we do and what the job of the City Council is,” he said. “It’s an important part of your education to understand how government works, and it’s important to be looking for ways to get involved now and in the future.”
Ward 3 City Councilor Julia Malakie said that youth involvement in local government can make a big difference.
“Youth can really have a lot of impact because they’ve got the energy,” she said. “They may have not given up on some things that adults may have given up on.”
Ward 2 City Councilor-at-Large Tarik Lucas said that raising awareness about local government is vital, as city-level politics has enormous effects on citizens’ daily lives.
“All politics are local. Local government is your schools, the quality of your roads, and your parks,” he said. “Your day-to-day [life] revolves around local decision-making. Local government trumps federal government.”
The many organizations present at the event included Families for Depression Awareness, League of Women Voters of Newton, Newton Neighbors, and the Mass Art Advocacy Project.
Sharyn Roberts, who serves on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Newton, said the League wanted to get involved with the event because the event’s goals mirrored those of her organization. Among other things, the League works to assemble voters’ guides and hold candidate forums.
“[The event] encourages your participation in civics, and that’s one of the things we’re all about – citizen education,” she said. “We like informed voters, and this is a really cool way to educate them before they vote.”
Hass hopes that the event will be the first of many youth-organized Newton Civic Spotlight events. She said that cultivating spaces to inform youth about the importance of local government is essential to her work.
“Youth are an important part of any community today and the future of our communities tomorrow. Becoming civically engaged and informed about the people, systems, laws, and supports that exist in the community allows folks to make informed choices and get involved in topics that are important to them,” she said. “While people under 18 years old can’t vote, their voices matter. This event gives young people the opportunity to hear from adults doing work that impacts them and to share their thoughts in a space that is dedicated to them.”
Theo Younkin is a Fig City News student reporter, a junior at Newton South High School, and Co-Managing Editor of the NSHS Lion’s Roar.
