As I am still serving on the CYC, this post seeks to provide a glimpse into my experience on the council which I will continue to update and use to reflect on this experience.
Serving as a member of the Constituency Youth Council has been a valuable experience, as I am able to engage with youth ages 13 to 22, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences to the table. Together, we have worked to engage youth through both community outreach programs and policy initiatives.
One of the highlights of my time on the council includes planning a Provincial Election Candidate Forum, which created an environment for open discussion where youth could pose questions to candidates on a variety of topics. We also are working to plan a policy café taking place on Zoom in June 2021, which will facilitate the sharing of ideas between youth on the topics of mental health, education, climate change, and immigration & citizenship.
Membership on this council has given me the opportunity to learn from MP Joyce Murray and to work collaboratively with her team and my fellow council members. I look forward to updating this page when I have completed my tenure on the CYC, as I am sure it will continue to be an highly influential experience.
If you would like to learn more about the CYC, take a look at the video below in which members of the council from 2018/2019 share their experience working together along side MP Joyce Murray:
This council gave me the opportunity to work collaboratively with other youth in Vancouver who are passionate about politics and policy. As a university student, I was one of the older members on the council, allowing me to step into the shoes of those younger than I am who share many of the same interests with regard to social issues while also offering a unique, valuable perspective. As a future policy maker, I hope to represent the interests of young adults and youth whose voices are often underrepresented. This experience has given me a glimpse into the way youth perceive politics, policy, and social issues, as well as how they conceptualize taking action and instigating change. More than anything, this council taught me the importance of knowing when to speak up and share my perspective and when to sit back and listen to the perspectives of others to better facilitate an open discussion and learn from one another.