With the November 2018 mid-term elections a
week away, much has been written about the importance of voting. Not only in
this election, but any election.
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| Students from Buffalo Grove and Stevenson high schools participate in the Oct. 22 Civics Forum |
This is not breaking news.
However, an added twist in recent years has
been the importance of civic engagement.
The message from major civic-minded foundations, government watchdog organizations
and community advocacy organizations or the village clerk is simple – civic
engagement is important.
Buffalo Grove’s Village Clerk, Janet Sirabian,
is not someone who jumped on the band wagon.
In fact, Sirabian helped get the band wagon rolling years ago when she
started coordinating the village’s annual Civics Forum.
The event includes students from Buffalo Grove
and Stevenson high schools who, for a day, are involved in village activities
that culminate with a Village Board meeting run by the students.
The Forum, held last Monday, gave students a
chance to present village projects to the full board, made up of the students,
with support from staff, also portrayed by students.
Students received information from village
departments. The proposals included a
volunteerism video, community development manufacturing expo, purchase of
10-year smoke detectors, a bench and picnic table for the police department,
purchase of a nitrogen generator tire-filling system, public workspace at
village hall, and a daily endorphin for village employees.
Students had the day to study and analyze each
proposal before presenting -- and
defending – them to the Board at the meeting.
What’s refreshing to note is that the students
did what village staff and village officials do (or are supposed to do); and
that is look at projects that impact the village. The students volunteered to
participate in the Forum so they can experience first hand how government works
and the importance of being involved in the civic process.
Which takes on seemingly more importance this
year because of the mid-term elections. The easiest way to get engaged in
civics is to vote. As said before, that’s not breaking news.
A more challenging way to get civically engaged
is to follow village activities. With
Village Board elections coming up in April of 2019, you can bet there will be
folks who will run for one of three Trustee seats available or, perhaps, even
Village President.
Unless they are seeking re-election, some of
the candidates who run seldom, if ever, attend Village Board meetings. Others
may run simply to promote their own agenda rather than work for the issues
facing the village as a whole.
While people want to jump on national or global
band wagons, there is greater need for civic engagement at the grassroots
level. There are more pressing issues than snow removal, skunks and parkway
trees.
Sirabian knows this, which is why she gets
young people involved.
And from the looks of things from last Monday’s
Civics Forum – they get it.
Hopefully more people will.
