24th annual Youth Congress to focus on politics
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

The 2008 presidential election has provided inspiration for the upcoming session of the Conejo Valley/Las Virgenes Future Foundation Youth Congress.

The theme for the 24th annual Youth Congress is "i-VOTE: Pop Culture Goes Political." Area high school students are invited to attend the half-day program, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., April 5 at Oak Park Community Center and Gardens, 1000 Kanan Road, Oak Park.

Mia Johnson, a senior at Agoura High School and student chair of this year's congress, can't wait to turn 18 in May and vote in what she says is a historic election. She hopes the topic of this year's event will inspire other young adults to become politically engaged.

According to Fran Brough, the foundation's executive director, planning for this year's youth congress started last December. Brough said the students on the committee "want their peers to know the importance of getting registered to vote and to take an active part in their governance at an early age."

Johnson said the event will start with a presentation by Herbert Gooch, a political science professor at California Lutheran University, and Mandana Sadigh, senior vice president of finance and strategy at Mattel in El Segundo. Gooch will discuss voting trends and the political process, while Sadigh will focus on how the United States' political process differs from that in her native Iran.

Brough said a panel discussion for local leaders has been planned. City mayors- Philippa Klessig of Westlake Village, James Bozajian of Calabasas and John Edelston of Agoura Hills- and council members Tom Glancy of Thousand Oaks and Michael Paule of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council will field questions about how they became involved in local politics and the issues their municipalities face. A roundtable discussion with speakers, panelists and students will follow.

Johnson said she believes today's youth are politically involved, but not in the traditional sense.

"We're getting involved on a different level- through blogs and the Internet," Johnson said. "We didn't have the technology in the 1960s as we do today," she said, admitting voter turnout in the 1960s was much higher than it is today.

Johnson hopes the Youth Congress will encourage people to vote. "This is the election to get involved," she said. "It's the reason why we chose (this topic). The candidates are so strong, and the nation believes they can make a difference." Johnson pointed to the current recession the nation is facing as a signal the country is in dire need of change.

"Voter apathy is prevalent in our country," said Pat Croner, an adult adviser for the congress who owns and operates Westlake Village-based The College Match, an organization that helps students with their college selection. "I want students to realize that they have it within their power to make a difference in their futures. The Future Foundation is apolitical, so this is not about taking sides and arguing the issues or standing up for the candidates."

Jan Iceland, an Oak Park School Board member and adviser to the youth committee, is also enthusiastic.

"This one is fabulous," Iceland said. "It's so important to get kids voting, getting them to understand how important their vote can be."

Iceland said so many of today's youth believe their vote doesn't matter and that there's no reason to bother with registering.

"That one vote can make a difference," Iceland said. "Elections

have been won and lost because of one vote." Who knows, Iceland said, the actions of just one person can help "change the whole world."

"If we get good, ethical people in office, think of what it could mean to the whole country, what it could mean to the world," Iceland said.

Skip Shaver, a former counselor at Thousand Oaks High School, is also an adult adviser.

Other activities planned for

the day include a poster art contest that best reflects the theme, "iVOTE." Voter registration booths will be manned at the event for both Ventura and Los Angeles county students who will be 18 years of age by Election Day, Nov. 4, 2008.

A student band from Thousand Oaks High School, Cicada, will provide entertainment.

The Future Foundation's student committee comprises teen leaders chosen by school administrators. Besides Johnson, other students on the planning committee are Stefan Blum, Hayley Kramer, Nick Howard and Gabriela Giron (Thousand Oaks High); Zoe Frank, Rachel Dubowe, Brandon Shindler, Sierra Powell and Shelby Samovar (Agoura High); Kesha Dorsey, Michele Grogin, Amir Ahmadi and Myriah Harris (Calabasas High); Meagan NorlingChristiansen, Molly NorlingChristiansen, Miranda Fang and Shane Hegeman (Westlake High); Tera Lutz and Karly Peterson (La Reina High); Francesca Corley, Alexandra Corley, Calvin Fong and Ilysse Gay (Oak Park High); Tony Milgrim (Newbury Park High); and Gage Minton and Rachael Harvey (Conejo Valley High).

Classes at some of the schools will offer extra credit or community service credit to students who attend the congress.

Space is limited and reservations are recommended. Students should contact the CLVFF office at (818) 880-1054 no later than Mon., March 31.