On Friday, February 7, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hosted more than 120 students during its annual Youth in Government Day. This full-day educational event, held in partnership with Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) 4-H, provides high school students from across Oakland County the opportunity to connect with their local government and discover the many ways they can get involved.
Students learned about Oakland County’s elected official roles and how those officials make decisions and policies that impact the daily life of all county residents. Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Brown; Executive Commander Major Larry Perry of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office; Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash; Kelly Collins, Chief of the Juvenile Justice Division; Treasurer Robert Wittenberg; Board Chair David T. Woodward; and several commissioners gave the students a glimpse into their roles and answered questions.
“Hearing the new and unique ideas young people have about issues facing residents across Oakland County is invigorating,” said Woodward (D-Royal Oak). “Their discussions throughout the day were full of passion, ingenuity and a commitment to improve the world they live in. I hope Youth in Government Day inspires these young people to continue their involvement with local government and work to make a difference in the world around them.”
MSUE educators engaged students through an interactive presentation, prompting them to think critically about current legislative issues. Students broke into smaller, educator-led groups to debate a topic that could have a direct impact on their lives and education and then cast mock ballots to vote on the topic discussed.
“Youth in Government Day is a great opportunity for students to practice the vital skill of problem-solving and debating points of view which differ from their own,” said Darren Bagley, 4-H youth
development educator. “Engaging with young people as they learn about our civic process and watching as they work together to make a positive change in our communities gives me hope for our collective future.”
Participants received an inside look at the county judicial system as they watched mock sentencings or trials and asked questions during their visit to the courtrooms of Circuit Court Judges Lorie N. Savin, Michael Warren, James Cunningham, and Maureen Kinsella. To end the day, students witnessed a demonstration from members of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit.
“Youth in Government Day is a great opportunity for our students get a hands-on learning experience,” said Adam Novak, a teacher from AGBU Alex & Marie Manoogian School. “Ever since the pandemic, our school has been very proactive in finding field trip opportunities for our students like this event that help them see real-world applications to what the learn in the classroom.”
Youth in Government Day began in the 1970s, when it was first organized by Daniel T. Murphy, Oakland County’s first county executive. For almost the last two decades, the program has been arranged by the Board of Commissioners. Youth in Government Day continues to encourage students to understand the ways local government affects their lives and communities, and to increase their participation in this critical area of government.
“This is a very well-done program,” said Brian Zezula, a teacher from Clarkston High School. “Textbooks are written from a national standpoint, so of course they don’t touch on local government. It’s good for the students to see this beautiful county complex and the serious things that get done here and relate directly to their lives back home. It shocks them that the decisions that make such a big impact on their lives are made so close to home.”
For additional information about the Board of Commissioners, visit OakGov.com/BOC.
Students learned about Oakland County’s elected official roles and how those officials make decisions and policies that impact the daily life of all county residents. Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Brown; Executive Commander Major Larry Perry of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office; Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash; Kelly Collins, Chief of the Juvenile Justice Division; Treasurer Robert Wittenberg; Board Chair David T. Woodward; and several commissioners gave the students a glimpse into their roles and answered questions.
“Hearing the new and unique ideas young people have about issues facing residents across Oakland County is invigorating,” said Woodward (D-Royal Oak). “Their discussions throughout the day were full of passion, ingenuity and a commitment to improve the world they live in. I hope Youth in Government Day inspires these young people to continue their involvement with local government and work to make a difference in the world around them.”
MSUE educators engaged students through an interactive presentation, prompting them to think critically about current legislative issues. Students broke into smaller, educator-led groups to debate a topic that could have a direct impact on their lives and education and then cast mock ballots to vote on the topic discussed.
“Youth in Government Day is a great opportunity for students to practice the vital skill of problem-solving and debating points of view which differ from their own,” said Darren Bagley, 4-H youth
development educator. “Engaging with young people as they learn about our civic process and watching as they work together to make a positive change in our communities gives me hope for our collective future.”
Participants received an inside look at the county judicial system as they watched mock sentencings or trials and asked questions during their visit to the courtrooms of Circuit Court Judges Lorie N. Savin, Michael Warren, James Cunningham, and Maureen Kinsella. To end the day, students witnessed a demonstration from members of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit.
“Youth in Government Day is a great opportunity for our students get a hands-on learning experience,” said Adam Novak, a teacher from AGBU Alex & Marie Manoogian School. “Ever since the pandemic, our school has been very proactive in finding field trip opportunities for our students like this event that help them see real-world applications to what the learn in the classroom.”
Youth in Government Day began in the 1970s, when it was first organized by Daniel T. Murphy, Oakland County’s first county executive. For almost the last two decades, the program has been arranged by the Board of Commissioners. Youth in Government Day continues to encourage students to understand the ways local government affects their lives and communities, and to increase their participation in this critical area of government.
“This is a very well-done program,” said Brian Zezula, a teacher from Clarkston High School. “Textbooks are written from a national standpoint, so of course they don’t touch on local government. It’s good for the students to see this beautiful county complex and the serious things that get done here and relate directly to their lives back home. It shocks them that the decisions that make such a big impact on their lives are made so close to home.”
For additional information about the Board of Commissioners, visit OakGov.com/BOC.
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