ABOVE: Danville’s Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr and Neuhoff Media’s Bill Pickett were among the discussion leaders at the Congressional District 2 Downstate Youth Leadership Conference; conducted by the Danville High School Future Problem Solvers, at the Danville Area Community College Bremer Center.
One year ago it was on the top floor of the DACC Administration Building. This year, Vermilion County came to the Danville Area Community College Bremer Center, for another Youth Leadership Conference put together for Wednesday morning (Jan 24th) by the Danville High School Future Problem Solvers. Local leaders, from Danville Police Chief Christopher Yates to Vermilion Advantage’s Mike Marron, conducted rotating roundtable discussions on various topics with high school students from schools throughout Vermilion County.
These topics included school funding and equity, housing, legislation, employment and career opportunities, and student mental health. The event’s full name was the Congressional District 2 Downstate Youth Leadership Conference. And just like the Future Problem Solvers’ special discussion event last fall on gun violence, Congresswoman Robin Kelly was there. She said afterwards that it was another very impressive day of hearing what’s on students’ minds, as she led one of the legislation discussions.
(1st Picture) All discussion leaders and DHS Future Problem Solvers pose with Congresswoman Robin Kelly. (2nd Picture) DHS Future Problem Solver Maya Hale speaks during welcoming portion of program. (3rd Picture) Congresswoman Robin Kelly poses with DHS Future Problem Solvers at end of program.
AUDIO: They were speaking to me about local problems, so I explained ‘well, you have to go to that person or that; I’m federal, and these are the things that we can do.’ So they just had good ideas and good solutions to issues that they see.
For Future Problem Solvers team captain Isaiah Easton, a DHS senior, it was a time to reflect upon the hope that DHS’ next Future Problem Solvers can keep the annual event alive and well.
AUDIO: I think we have it in a really good place. We’ve established a connection with DACC. We’ve established connections with our discussion leaders. It’s a really good response from the community, and from the rest of the county and from neighboring counties. It’s getting a very good reputation.
(1st Picture) 2013 DHS graduate and Xceleader Co-Founder Aarian J. Forman opens the program. (2nd Picture) Congresswoman Robin Kelly gives closing address. (3rd Picture) Three Kings of Peace member and Danville alderman Ed Butler makes a point.
One of the student attendees was DHS senior Curtis Beasley IV.
AUDIO: And it was also nice to extend it to the complete Vermilion County. I feel as though we have established a lot of good ideas. And now it’s up to us as leaders in the community, and students, to make sure that we’re taking the steps to put these things into play.
Also in attendance leading discussion was newly installed State Rep Brandun Schweizer.
AUDIO: The high schoolers getting to understand what resources are out there, what leaders are out there; so maybe we can, as leaders, understand a different perspective from the younger generation.
And once again, Faculty Advisor Lori Woods looked at the job her Future Problem Solvers students did with pride. She said it was a bit challenging down the stretch this time; because from weather to water pressure issues, her students had not been in the Danville High School doors all that much lately.
AUDIO: We’ve only had one day of school since January 11th. We were all online trying to figure it out. We got permission to go in at 2 o’clock and get our stuff yesterday. These kids were here until 8, and then some of them were up until 11; and we were just texting and making it happen.
This year’s DHS Problem Solvers competitive project is their creation of the College and Career Readiness Lab at the high school. They will be heading into competition at the end of February.
