News Flash

June 15, 2020 - The city is looking for interested teenagers from Hampton to take part in a special, four-day series of meetings designed to discuss and promote civic engagement, diversity, and unity. You can register online. The idea for the meetings came from recent Facebook Live forums held by Mayor Donnie Tuck to discuss ongoing civil unrest – locally and nationwide. The goal is to gain a broader understanding of the concerns and issues affecting Hampton’s young people. Here’s the lineup (meetings will be either virtual or in-person, at locations to be announced later):

A Day of Convening: Thursday, July 23, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Participants talk about diversity, privilege, and the power of civic engagement.

Civic Action: Friday, July 24, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Participants receive “health equity” training and help distribute personal protection equipment or PPE (face masks, gloves, and other supplies) in vulnerable local communities. The PPE program is promoted by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Health Equity Pilot Program.

Youth Sharing & Planning: Monday, July 27, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. First, participants will talk about their concerns. Then they’ll help create an action plan to address those concerns as part of a service-learning or community service project.

Mayor’s Youth Forum: Tuesday, July 28, 7-8:30 pm. five participants will be selected at random to serve as panelists on a Facebook Live forum about the concerns of young people. They’ll talk about ways they can make positive contributions to society, and the resources that will be needed to address their concerns.

Young people will have the option to participate in these meetings in person or virtually. If meetings are in person, strict safety guidelines will be enforced, with temperature checks and personal protection equipment for everyone.

These discussions are being managed and sponsored by Hampton’s Citizens Unity Commission, the city’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities, The Virginia Cooperative Extension 4H & Youth Development Program, and the city’s Community Development office. At the end of the meetings, organizers hope to develop an action plan that will help Hampton address issues raised by the participants.

There is a 30-person limit on the number of young people (ages 13-19) who can take part, so go online now to register.