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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />YOUTH COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT <br /> <br /> <br />April 10, 2024 <br />Item 4 <br /> <br />TITLE: REVIEW AND DISCUSS YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT DAY 2024 <br /> <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br />Each year the City of Pleasanton and the Pleasanton Unified School District partner to <br />host Youth in Government Day. The goal of the day is to stimulate interest in community <br />governance and assist in the understanding of the democratic process. Pleasanton high <br />school students spend a day job shadowing, participating in staff meetings, and learning <br />about City and School District leadership. On average, 75 students attend this event. <br /> <br />Along with job shadowing, students participate in an afternoon closing activity to apply <br />lessons learned throughout the day. The activity was modeled after the Shark Tank <br />television show. Student groups presented their ideas at the closing session, Shark <br />Tank-style. <br /> <br />The Youth in Government Day Ad Hoc Committee has requested the commission <br />review the event and discuss new closing activity ideas. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Review and discuss Youth in Government Day 2024 <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />From 2010 through 2015, Youth in Government Day consisted of a morning job shadow <br />experience, lunch, and an afternoon workshop. Some examples of the afternoon <br />workshop included: a mock city council meeting, discussions on teen issues, and <br />keynote speakers on youth-related topics. <br /> <br />Based on feedback from students at the time, in 2016, the structure of the day changed <br />to include an afternoon job shadow experience in lieu of a workshop or closing activity. <br />This allowed students to meet and shadow two different professionals during the event. <br /> <br />While the Youth Commission has been involved in Youth in Government Day since its <br />inception, the Public Policy Committee and more recently the Youth in Government Day <br />Ad Hoc Committee work directly with City staff on the planning, marketing, and day of <br />coordination. <br /> <br />The Ad Hoc Committee recommended including a short closing activity after the second <br />job shadow experience. A Shark Tank-style activity was first introduced in 2023 and, <br />due to its success, repeated in 2024. This group activity asked students to work