Youth Wellness Task Force meets

Community members from across Crow Wing County met Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Brainerd to continue the work of the Youth Wellness Task Force.

Participants identified and began working on four initial projects to promote youth wellness in Crow Wing County.

Adam Marcotte of Lutheran Social Services and youth representatives of the task force's youth board helped facilitate the day's events, which began with remarks from Brainerd Mayor James Wallin, who welcomed the community and expressed his support.

Roger Lynn, executive director of the Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project, outlined the goals of the Youth Wellness Task Force. We want young people to feel supported by the community and stay in our community or return after post-secondary education to build their lives here, Lynn said.

The Youth Wellness Task Force was inspired by Minneapolis' Blueprint for Action, a program that has been successfully meeting youths needs in Minneapolis since 2006. The Minnesota Department of Health has expressed its support for the Youth Wellness Task Force.

Maxine Norman of University of Minnesota Extension presented at Tuesday's meeting on effectively including youths in community life and decision making. Inviting youths to participate in the community in meaningful ways, Norman said, is fulfilling for the entire community.

State Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, spoke about the importance of collaboration between youths and adults. Ward emphasized the power and vitality of intergenerational communities rooted in mutual respect and service.

Youths presented the youth board's project ideas. Their presentation included proposals for a community center, music festival, youth representation on decision-making boards, peer health education, and youth produced media.

Small groups discussed the proposals and established priorities. Long terms goals include improving youths access to reliable transportation, hosting a music festival and incorporating conflict resolution and violence prevention programs in schools.

Immediate goals include creating a youth run community center, peer led health education programs and a youth wellness media campaign.

Heidi Haugen of University of Minnesota Extension described the fourth project as an effort to support and promote youth voice in community decision making. In a survey conducted this summer, county youths identified lack of voice in community decision making as a primary concern.

Participants began working on the four project areas over lunch and through the end of the workshop. Cindy Moore of Lutheran Social Services described the vision for a community center in Brainerd as a safe place full of possibilities.

The media campaign hopes to involve youths in creating comic strips, short films and various other artistic expressions.

The next meeting will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Central Lakes College in the cafeteria. Dinner will be provided. Everyone is welcome. For more information about the Youth Wellness Task Force and how to get involved, or to register for the December meeting, contact Annie Mountcastle at crowwingyouth@gmail.com or 829-7729.