Fargo Youth Initiative - May 4, 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, May 4, 2025.
The Fargo Youth Initiative Members present or absent were as follows:
Present*: Ava Bach, Drew Burris, Isabella Meyer, Kaj Naujokas, Reanna Quiah, Lucy Paul, McKenzie Olson, Steph Kramer
Absent: Aiden Rosten, Abigail Hamilton, Ashley Hsu, Erica Johnson, Harper Reiniger, Justin Jiang, Kallie Anderson, Koral Siegal, Lillian Dybing, Minou Babingui, Rose Ali, Setiya Hamidi
*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.
Item 3. School Engagement
Fargo School Board Liaison Kristin Nelson solicited feedback regarding the recently approved legislation to ban cell phones in schools. Discussion was held regarding policy design considerations and anticipated outcomes. She also opened discussion to feedback on potential student engagement models to implement in schools for enhanced communication with leadership.
Item 4. Youth Public Health
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie shared updates on behalf of Fargo Cass Public Health Community Health Educator Abby Lange, including thanks to FYI members for supporting the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Summit on April 8. She also shared that there is interest from school counselors to continue collaboration with Members on enhancing lessons plans on mental health.
Chair Meyer shared an update that she and two other Members have begun coordinating with Fargo Cass Public Health on meetings for the youth substance abuse prevention campaign that was proposed at the April meeting.
Item 5. Youth Homelessness
Members watched a video of the recent homelessness strategy presentation from City Commission on April 28 and asked follow-up questions.
Item 6. North Dakota Legislative Session
Chair Meyer shared about the status of bills of interest in the North Dakota Legislative Session. She also shared that she has some upcoming advocacy opportunities in Washington, D.C. and invited Members to share their ideas with her.
Item 7. Volunteering Discussion
Chair Meyer said she is working to set up a group volunteering effort for something related to homelessness, to align with the board’s focus areas this year.
Item 8. Liaison and Staff Reports
No reports were given.
Item 9. Announcements
Chair Meyer shared the dates of upcoming City Commission meetings. Member Kramer shared that she will be presenting to the Fargo School Board in May to propose media literacy coursework.
Item 10. Adjourn – Next meeting June 1, 2025
The time of adjournment was 2:50 p.m.