The Doing Democracy Day event kicked off on Thursday, March 6 with students from local high schools coming together to discuss complex issues such as cell phone bans, affordable housing, a $20 minimum wage, and more. This multi-community, multi-school event presented students with the opportunity to research these issues, craft solutions, and present their ideas to local leaders. More than 90 high school students participated in the event, and the team whose proposal was most successful was celebrated at the end of the day.
Hosted at the Longmont Museum, students spent the morning of the event splitting into designated groups and researching their assigned issues. After completing their preliminary research, students were invited to interview local leaders from various businesses and organizations. Throughout the Swan Atrium, students spoke with representatives from the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools, Boulder County, UCHealth, and many more. “I’ve been here several years now and my topics today are voting for 16 and 17 year olds and minimum wage. I’ve also talked to a lot of students about cell phones. The students ask a lot of good questions and I just love working this event,” said Peggy Leech from League of Women Voters of Boulder County.
Students, through conversations with peers and community leaders, are able to think critically about both local and regional issues. For many, it’s a great opportunity to simply connect with the community and to gain new perspectives. “I think that it’s really important that we’re making connections with people and understanding what the world is going to look like as we take the reins,” said Silver Creek High School junior Addison Tretten. “I also think that there’s a lot of really smart people in this room and a lot of brilliant ideas, and when you put all of us together, you get a lot of positive impact.”
This yearly event has allowed the community and St. Vrain Valley Schools to continue their partnership in nurturing students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills. For many district employees working the event, they couldn’t be more proud of the active role their students are taking in addressing and solving these issues. Lynn Eckart, Innovation Outreach Facilitator for the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools said, “They’re learning how to network and talk with other people and research. I really love seeing how empowered the teams are, and that they realize that this is their world and they are the next generation to go into the workforce.”
The Doing Democracy Day event continues to serve as a valuable platform for students to engage with pressing societal issues, collaborate with peers, and connect with local leaders. Through research, discussion, and solution-driven thinking, participants gain skills that will help them navigate the complexities of the real world. As they take these lessons forward, the event reinforces the power of youth voices in shaping the future of our community.