With nervous excitement, Scout Mortenson, a junior at Ojai Valley School, steps up to the microphone at an Ojai City Council meeting and shares her thoughts on a topic that she wants to make a difference about.
The Ojai Mayor’s Youth Council is currently up and running, and students from Ojai Valley School are taking part in making the community a better place.
“My understanding is that it’s to help students better understand city government and how things work,” said Craig Floyd, the head of Upper Campus at Ojai Valley School. “I think it is a great opportunity to work closely with the mayor and see all of those jobs.”
The Youth Council meetings held in town are incredible opportunities for students to become more closely connected to the town of Ojai and learn about the city’s problems. These opportunities also allow students to develop their practical skills and confidence. The Youth Council members apply their learning by attending Ojai City Council meetings, where they stand in front of a large audience and voice their opinions.
In the Ojai Mayor’s Youth Council are OVS day students seniors Alula Alderson, Karin Hahn, Elizabeth Ramsay, and junior boarding student, Scout Mortenson. These girls are learning how local government works. At the council, they also discuss solutions to problems that are currently happening in Ojai, like glue traps, homelessness, and invasive species.
“Going to a city council and public speaking is really hard. You are sharing your ideas with a lot of people,” said Scout.
This challenge has helped Scout improve her public speaking skills and given her a great deal of growth through interaction with people from different schools.
Alula also spoke at a City Council meeting.
“I got up there and I spoke about having better Ebike safety policies in Ojai,” she said. “My friend was on her Ebike and she got hit by a car, and I wanted to advocate for better safety around the bikes.”
She is taking her own steps toward solving what she feels needs improvement in the city. Her words will bring the city of Ojai closer to something better.
This is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to develop their public speaking skills, get to know where they are living better, and make the small city of Ojai a better place.