GREENFIELD — As part of the annual YELO Forum (Youth Engage with Legislators and Officials) at Greenfield High School, more than 50 students met with elected officials to discuss topics like mental health and safety in schools.
Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner and City Councilors Philip Elmer, Otis Wheeler, Sheila Gilmour, Virginia “Ginny” DeSorgher and Christine Forgey, as well as Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and a representative for Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru, participated in discussions with the students for three hours on Friday.
The event, which also welcomed a few students from Great Falls Middle School, was coordinated by DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps and Greenfield High School history teacher Luke Martin.
“There’s been a recent shift in the Massachusetts bylaws to incorporate social studies with an emphasis on civics,” Martin said. “We’re learning about the Constitution right now and this event supports that well.”
He added that he took pride in watching the students and the officials who represent them get to know each other.
“It’s also to show you these officials are human and in the not-so-distant future, hopefully, some of you will step up to do their jobs,” Martin told the students.
Greenfield High School junior Ella McDaniel said she first attended the YELO Forum last year, and was excited to come again.
“It was great to see so many kids that came and that elected officials were receptive to our thoughts and open discussion,” McDaniel said. “It also showed how hard these people are working.”
Topics she was interested in included reducing recidivism in jails, allocating funding for solar energy and combating addiction.
“I’m a concerned citizen and an active member of the community, including on Jim McGovern’s Youth Congress,” McDaniel said. “There are lots of folks with concerns who want to make their voices heard and this is a great way to do that.”
With a focus on mental health, junior Willow Scappace said she felt hopeful after speaking to elected officials.
“It was amazing to have adults listen to younger, smaller voices,” she said. “Mental health is an important topic and there are people who are suffering and don’t say anything, so there’s no change. This was incredible because they said they want to see change and make sure to help with that.”
In the same vein, junior Owen Rhayne came up with an idea to implement change for students struggling with mental illness.
“Sometimes it’s hard for students to reach out and talk when they feel they don’t have a place to go,” Rhayne said. “I pointed out that the school should have an office to be a place where people who are feeling anxious can go to talk and cope with how they’re feeling. I found it nice to be heard because (elected officials) want to find ways to make change. I have tons of ideas and I don’t know how to go about it.”
Sage Cronen-Townsend said they found it helpful to have conversations with elected officials that are already going on between members of the student body.
“Having them hear what we have to say and looking to take action is empowering,” Cronen-Townsend said. “I felt the discussion on homelessness, to see the perspective of what’s going on in Greenfield from a first-hand perspective, made it feel like change is happening here.”
In particular, Mayor Wedegartner said the subject of mental health was one that stood out to her.
“I’ve heard that students desire teachers to be more understanding of what each day is like when you have anxiety or a mental illness, either in their family or self,” she said.
Wedegartner added she can take action as a member of the School Committee.
“I took away that I need to talk with teachers and Superintendent Jordana Harper about the lockdown process and the ways it could be improved,” she said. “I live in fear … of that phone call that something’s happened at one of our schools.”
Councilor Gilmour said she was happy to participate in the YELO Forum for the second time.
“It’s good that we have such an engaged group here at the high school,” she said.
Commenting that she felt no two opinions were the same, Councilor Forgey said she believed each person listened to one another.
“As long as we can agree to remain learners today and moving forward, there is room for progress and dialogue,” she said. “We are placeholders and we’re waiting for you.”
Councilor DeSorgher said speaking with the students showed her that she has similar concerns as them.
“The students of Greenfield and Turners Falls are concerned about the things I am and all of the things that were brought up, I’m working on,” DeSorgher said. “I’m proud to be here.”
Wheeler, now City Council vice president, was also excited to attend the YELO Forum.
“The kids are the future,” Wheeler said. “They have new perspectives and such high energy. It was really fun and I hope some of them decide to shadow the city councilors.”