Impressive Grass Roots Efforts By Livermore Teens Address Bullying and Racism

LIVERMORE, CA- While incidents of bullying and racism in the San Ramon Valley School District made national headlines, teens of diverse backgrounds were busy working to create an inclusive community in Livermore. Some of these students observed divisive behavior and actions while others personally experienced bullying and racist comments. Courageously taking matters into their own hands to address these issues, teens serving on the Livermore Area Youth Advisory Commission (LAYAC) decided take action with a goal to create an inclusive community.

“When some of the youth commissioners shared about their on-campus experiences, I asked them if they wanted to create a sub-committee to help them address the racist, bullying, gender, immigrant and religious intolerant issues,” shares Ann Brown, an adult commissioner serving on LAYAC.

Last spring, several youth commissioners stepped forward to serve on LAYAC’s new sub-committee and decided to create a proclamation. They met over the summer to draft their inclusiveness proclamation by researching what other cities and organizations had done to help form an inclusive community and shared their own ideas about what should be included. The full Commission will discuss the final inclusiveness draft and vote on whether to adopt it at the next LAYAC meeting on Monday, September 11th at 7PM in the Elbow Room of the Robert Livermore Community Center.

“I read what other cities like Portland have done to take a stand. I want Livermore to do the same thing,” says Piper Cooke, a youth commissioner and Senior at Livermore High School. “I anticipate my fellow youth commissioners will agree and adopt the drafted proclamation. Once it has been adopted, we will step further into our roles as youth commissioners by presenting the inclusive community proclamation to Livermore’s city council and advise its adoption as a citywide resolution.”

During the same month LAYAC votes on their inclusive community proclamation, similar efforts to bring compassion-in-action to Livermore are taking place. St. Charles Borromeo Church hosts “How Kids and Parents Can Choose Love Everyday” presented by guest speaker Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement. Additionally, Valley Montessori School hosts a documentary screening, “Resilience – The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope”, which highlights the effects of adverse childhood experiences. Pediatricians, therapists, educators and communities are using cutting-edge brain science to disrupt cycles of violence, addiction and disease. A panel discussion with key experts follows the screening including Jennifer Lynn-Whaley, PhD from the Contra Costa Youth Justice Institute, Jane Ellen Stevens from ACEsTooHigh.com (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and Scarlett Lewis from the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement.

The Livermore Area Youth Advisory Commission (LAYAC) brings together youth and adult, private and public sectors of the community to address responsibility for the care, health, safety, welfare and education of Livermore's young people. The Commission promotes youth involvement in the Livermore community and communication between City leadership and the young people of the City plus creates a forum for ideas and concerns, and provides a vehicle for concerns and interests of youth to be communicated to City Council. LAYAC is comprised of 15 youth members (ages 12 to 20) and 3 adult non-voting members (age 21 and older).

LAYAC meetings are held monthly and the public is encouraged to attend. To learn more about LAYAC, please visit http://www.cityoflivermore.net...

Photo credit: Barbara Bonanno via Pixabay