Fargo Youth Initiative - June 1, 2025 Minutes
A Meeting of the Fargo Youth Initiative Members of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in Atomic Coffee, 222 Broadway N #100, at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, June 1, 2025.
The Fargo Youth Initiative Members present or absent were as follows:
Present*: Ashley Hsu, Ava Bach, Drew Burris, Erica Johnson, Harper Reiniger, Isabella Meyer, Justin Jiang, Kaj Naujokas, Lucy Paul, Minou Babingui Setiya Hamidi
Absent: Aiden Rosten, Abigail Hamilton, Kallie Anderson, Koral Siegal, Lillian Dybing, Rose Ali, Reanna Quiah, McKenzie Olson, Steph Kramer
*Due to lack of quorum for an official meeting, the meeting commenced with informal presentation and discussion.
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Meyer welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve Agenda & Minutes
This item was tabled due to lack of quorum at the time of the agenda item.
Item 3. School Engagement
No updates were heard.
Item 4. Youth Public Health
Chair Meyer shared an update that she and fellow Members who volunteered for the youth substance abuse prevention campaign are awaiting further coordination from Fargo Cass Public Health.
Item 5. Youth Homelessness
Representatives of the North Dakota Youth Action Board, Axel Beckett and Shawnel Willer, joined virtually to share about the North Dakota Youth Action Board and opportunities for further engagement.
Item 6. Ground Mural Project Collaboration
Artist and Folkways representative Lesleyanne Buegel joined virtually to share about an upcoming ground mural project located downtown and invited members to volunteer. Members asked questions about the project as well as how to pursue their own ideas for local murals.
Item 7. North Dakota Legislative Session
Chair Meyer shared that the North Dakota Legislative Session is officially concluded. She also shared that she has some upcoming advocacy opportunities in Washington, D.C. and invited Members to share their ideas with her.
Item 8. Volunteering Discussion
Chair Meyer suggested using the ground mural project as a volunteering opportunity.
Item 9. Liaison and Staff Reports
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie shared on behalf of the City that they are undergoing the 2026 budget process and in tandem reviewing the governance structures and support in place for some citizen advisory boards, including Fargo Youth Initiative.
In response, Chair Meyer shared feedback that she values the access to connections with city officials that has been afforded by Fargo Youth Initiative and its Impact Fargo event, on a variety of topics that are of importance to youth such as the phone bill ban, sustainability, and public health. Member Hamidi shared feedback that Impact Fargo was what led her to apply to Fargo Youth Initiative and that she values the new perspectives and connections and opportunities for impact that it brought. She added that monthly meetings are valuable for her since youth make up a large part of the population and an opportunity for their feedback is important. Chair Meyer added that there is value in introducing the youth to how government works, which is important to making more informed decisions and fostering civic engagement.
Member Hamidi shared as liaison to the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee that she will attend meetings as she is able and share some ideas including for a sustainability mural.
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie shared an update on behalf of the Planning Department that there are several upcoming LDC Workshops in June.
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie shared an update on behalf of the Parks District that they have an interactive engagement site for their Park System Master Plan at Connect.FargoParks.com.
Item 10. Announcements
Chair Meyer shared the dates of upcoming City Commission meetings.
Item 11. Adjourn
The time of adjournment was 2:30 p.m.