First ever Youth Day at Minneapolis City Hall, welcomed nearly 100 high school students

Today marked the first Youth Day at Minneapolis City Hall where high school students from across the city got to weigh in on some of the cities key issues.

Jane Rohlfing is a senior at South High and for her this was an opportunity to talk directly to city leaders.

"The Mayor needs to needs to hear out these youths concerns, Says Rohlfing, " concerns around Palestine, concerns around the MPS budget cut, the concerns around the intense racism that facing our city, the concerns around the displacement of un-housed people and the bulldozers that are taking away their encampment."

Similarly Camden High School Senior Shamyra Melton says she hopes to learn more about a career in education advocacy work.

" Youth being a part of decisions that impact them is very important," says Melton, " especially at a young age learning those advocacy skills can change students trajectory on who they can become."

Topics of discussion included recreational cannabis, the city budget process, and Minneapolis' Climate Equity Plan as they toured both the Public Service Building and City Hall.

Organizer Karen Moe, says the event's resource fair focused on connecting a new generation of people to public work.

" Whether its exploring how to become an election judge for the city of Minneapolis, we also have the step up program and the urban scholar program which which places young people in different positions and departments all over the city, " says Moe, " We also have a lot of opportunities with our public works that have the opportunity to be life long positions for people."

Moe says she hopes this is the first year of many that gives a platform to student voices.