Youth Spend Day At Petaluma City Hall

From TLT: Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT), a program of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County, partnered with the local government officials in the city of Petaluma for their annual Government & Planning Day. Nearly 100 juniors from high schools throughout Sonoma County participated in the day, exploring the functions of local government and its impact on their lives.

The day began at Petaluma City Hall with a panel facilitated by Mayor Teresa Barrett introducing TLT students to who runs the city and the professional background of local government leaders Vice-Mayor Kevin McDonnell and Councilmembers Dave King & D’Lynda Fischer. Vice-Mayor McDonnell and Councilmembers King & D’Lynda told students of the career path that led to their positions as well as the type of work they do, its importance and the goals they hope to achieve during their tenure.

The next panel was a discussion of a day-in-the-life of city management with City Manager Peggy Flynn, City Attorney Eric Danly and City Clerk Claire Cooper describing the essential functions of city staff. “During Government & Planning Day, TLT partners with local municipalities,” said TLT Director Catrina Dierke. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for TLT students to meet elected officials, learn about their community and discover what it takes to make a city run.”

The school board presentation that followed with Superintendent Gary Callihan, Board President Ellen WebsterS and Board Members Mady Cloud & Joanna Paun answered student questions about serious topics that concerned them most such as class sizes, budget cuts, quality of facilities and school safety. “I learned that my voice matters.”, TLT student Olivia Badaglia said.

After lunch, sponsored by AccountMate Software, County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters, Deva Marie Proto, talked to students about why voting matters and the importance of making their voices heard. The students pre-registered to vote and shared their excitement for the event. TLT student Emma Riley shared that she “[…] learned about the effect I can have in my government.”

The students were left with more understanding and confidence in local government and as TLT student Anesia Franklin stated, “I learned more about local government and to be active in my community!”