Since the 1970s, Youth in Government Day has aimed to help develop young adults into future leaders. In Oakland County, the Board of Commissioners has a long-standing history of hosting this event. Hosted in partnership with Michigan State University Extension 4-H, the event encourages youth to understand and participate in the processes that impact their lives and communities.

On Friday, Feb. 9, commissioners welcomed more than 80 students from across the county for the 2024 Youth in Government Day. High schoolers learned about local government, participated in problem-solving sessions and interacted with elected officials, including Undersheriff Curtis Childs, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Markeisha Washington, Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash and Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg.

The morning began with a group activity led by MSU 4-H educator Darren Bagley. “Issues on the Line” actively engaged students in thinking about the challenges governments and society face every day and set the tone for the problem-solving activity ahead. Participants were divided into smaller groups in break-out rooms to discuss how they would prioritize funding for regional sustainability projects with assistance from Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer Erin Quetell.

Following a presentation of each group’s decisions, the students engaged in a short discussion with Board Chair David T. Woodward (District 1) and Commissioners Ann Erickson Gault (District 3), Brendan Johnson (District 4), Angela Powell (District 9), Philip J. Weipert (District 13) and Yolanda Smith Charles (District 17). Even lunch presented an opportunity to engage with government, as commissioners sat with participants from their districts and Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Brown was available to register those eligible to vote.

Students then visited the courtrooms of Chief Circuit Judge Jeffery S. Matis, Circuit Judge Lorie N. Savin and Circuit Judge Michael Warren where they participated in mock sessions and engaged in Q&A sessions with the judges.

To round out the event, members of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit demonstrated the impressive abilities of the four-legged officers.

Throughout the day, staff from Oakland County Parks was available to share information about opportunities for summer jobs.  

With all of these sessions, activities and direct engagement with elected officials, this year’s Youth in Government Day achieved its goal: demonstrating that teenagers are never too young to be involved or to make a difference.

For more on the day’s events, visit the Board’s website or check out its Facebook Reel.

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