The Grand Rapids Mayor's Youth Council and Our Community’s Children invites you to participate on the Listening Panel at KidSpeak® 2023: SAFE – Scholars Achieving Fearless Endeavors on Friday, April 21st from 10 a.m. to noon in the City Commission Chambers, 9th floor of Grand Rapids City Hall. Listening panelists are not required to speak but if time permits, they will be prompted to give comments.

KidSpeak® is an annual forum facilitated by the Mayor’s Youth Council, managed by Our Community’s Children, that gives young people in kindergarten through 12th-grade the opportunity to speak directly to legislators, community leaders, and school officials about issues of importance to them. Our Community’s Children is a public/private partnership between the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Public Schools and community partners.

Please use the link below to register for the KidSpeak Listening Panel or email zlaraway@grcity.us to confirm your participation for the event:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1a_UChvWyuCRenw6yVmrAHfPsC4nJQqIyFUbJg6BtdYw/viewform?edit_requested=true 

Creating and nurturing safe environments for scholars of all levels is paramount to their success and growth in our ever-changing world. This year’s Mayor’s Youth Council has chosen to bring scholar safety to the forefront for topics related to safe environments in school, at home, and in their community during the annual KidSpeak® forum. The growing call for more enhanced and secure measures related to safety is not only relevant to youth in today’s world but will continue to be a leading issue as both youth and adults navigate their desire for safe environments. During KidSpeak® 2023: SAFE – Scholars Achieving Fearless Endeavors, young people in kindergarten through 12th-grade will have a safe space to give testimony and offer recommendations to policymakers and community leaders for action.