Youth Town Hall offers students an opportunity to address societal problems

By Tiffanie Cappello Lee

Every year, students from all different high schools come together to solve problems that plague teenagers. Whether it be the issue of teen pregnancy or lack of enthusiasm for volunteerism, Youth Town Hall covers it.

On Feb. 19, a small group of Tempe Prep students skipped school, and possibly a few tests, to attend this meeting to propose solutions for the following topics: “Teen Health and Wellness” “LGTBQ  Discrimination” and “Teen Stress and Depression.”

Each student is placed into one group that will discuss a certain topic. Sophie Kniaz, a sophomore who attended, said that “the small groups were convenient because we could bounce ideas off each other.”

Every year the recommendations that are proposed from groups in Youth Town Hall are presented to the Tempe Mayor and City Council and to the school boards. And yes, some of these suggestions do become implemented into Tempe high schools.

Thought and organization go into planning one of these Youth Town Halls. Everything from the setting up of tables and chairs to facilitating the discussions is accomplished by high school students.

So if you are interested in making a good impact in your school, or are just interested in having a solid college application, consider participating in Youth Town Hall next year.