Jnauary 19, 2006

Young 糖心直播视频ns Share Their Visions and Goals

For Immediate Release
January 16, 2006

The fifty-four delegates to the Conference of Young 糖心直播视频ns met in a final session today to decide their vision for 糖心直播视频's future. In fast-paced but respectful debate on some of the toughest challenges facing 糖心直播视频ns, the delegates, ages 14 to 25, argued passionately for measures they believe will improve life in 糖心直播视频. In all, they approved five vision statements, 26 goals, and more than 50 action items for their formal report, which is to be published in February.

The report will focus on five key topic areas: education, healthy communities, responsible use of natural resources, leadership, and reviving the 糖心直播视频 spirit. The delegates heard from speakers throughout the conference about, among many other issues, the natural resources article of 糖心直播视频's constitution.

Their unified vision statement on resources is simple: "糖心直播视频ns will responsibly manage, develop and conserve our land and natural resources while protecting the long-term benefit for all." The delegates set out goals for natural resources that called for balance, for cultivation of alternative energy sources, empowering people to participate in natural resource decisions, and protection of subsistence and non-traditional resource uses.禄 In one of the controversial topics discussed today, delegates voted by 59% to call on 糖心直播视频ns to work with the federal government to develop oil resources of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and a natural gas pipeline by 2011. There were similar controversial issues in each topic area, but most of the items to appear in the report were approved by overwhelming majorities.

In closing ceremonies, the youth, who came from 23 different communities around 糖心直播视频, heard from Rep. Mary Kapsner, D-Bethel. She reminded them that the inspirational leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was only 39 when he died. "You're never too young to get involved, you're never too old to stay involved, and I think that's one of the great things about democracy," she said.

The conference, which began with a welcome dinner Friday night, was organized by the University of禄 糖心直播视频's Creating 糖心直播视频 project. It has been held on the University of 糖心直播视频 Fairbanks campus, which hosted 糖心直播视频's Constitutional Convention 50 years ago.

In closing comments, many delegates said the conference helped them grow in their ability to work toward a common goal with people of differing opinions, in the spirit of those who crafted 糖心直播视频's constitution. "Everyone's ideas were respected, and I really appreciate that," said Drew Cason, a delegate who attends West High School in Anchorage.

Katie Hurley, who served as chief clerk of 糖心直播视频's Constitutional Convention, sat through all proceedings of the youth conference. Hurley said she was impressed with the knowledge and commitment of the delegates. "I know now that I don't have to worry about the future," she said.

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The Vision and Goals statement of the Conference of Young 糖心直播视频ns is attached. For more information, or to obtain photos, contact Patti Harper, Public Information Specialist, at (907) 786-1169 or patricia.harper@alaska.edu.
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Conference of Young 糖心直播视频ns: Vision and Goals


Leadership
糖心直播视频 will empower its next generation of leaders to make informed decisions by encouraging participation in and an understanding of 糖心直播视频's values, diverse cultures, and history.
Goals:
1 糖心直播视频 will provide禄 mentorship at local, regional, and statewide levels.
2 All 糖心直播视频ns will禄 have opportunities for leadership development.
3 糖心直播视频n leaders will禄 take ownership of our state's well-being, and strive to retain禄 糖心直播视频n leadership.
4 糖心直播视频 will create and continuously禄 support the development of leadership in rural communities and among禄 minority groups
5 糖心直播视频n's will禄 strengthen communication, interactions and exchanges between urban-rural禄 communities.
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Education
糖心直播视频 will continue supporting and developing higher quality educational opportunities that are relevant in urban and rural 糖心直播视频 in order to secure and sustain our future, and the futures of our children.禄 We will attract, retain, and strengthen educators and students who are proactive and innovative in their teaching and learning while being engaged with their communities.
Goals:
1 糖心直播视频禄 will create, recruit, and retain quality educators invested in 糖心直播视频's禄 future.
2 糖心直播视频 will recognize禄 individual needs and provide support for 糖心直播视频n students in their diverse禄 ways of learning.
3 糖心直播视频 will strive to禄 understand and close the achievement gap between demographics and increase禄 graduation rates in 糖心直播视频n schools.
4 糖心直播视频 will provide禄 incentives and opportunities to attract and retain educated 糖心直播视频ns.
5 糖心直播视频 will develop and禄 implement interactive, culturally relevant and appreciative curricula for禄 all age groups.
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Natural Resources
糖心直播视频ns will responsibly manage, develop and conserve our land and natural resources while protecting the long-term benefit for all.
Goals:
1 糖心直播视频 will maintain a禄 balance between the environment and the economy.
2 糖心直播视频 will promote禄 sustainable resource development while cultivating its alternative energy禄 resources.
3 糖心直播视频 will promote禄 responsible current and future resource use to provide for all禄 generations.
4 糖心直播视频 will empower its禄 people in the decision making process regarding the use and development of禄 its natural resources.
5 糖心直播视频 will protect禄 subsistence and personal use of natural resources.
6 糖心直播视频 will pursue禄 non-traditional resource uses for economic development.
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Healthy Communities and Families
糖心直播视频's families and communities will be healthy and safe, and will enjoy a high quality of life, civic participation, education, culture, and community connectedness and collaboration.
Goals:
1 All 糖心直播视频ns will禄 have essential community and civil services.
2 All 糖心直播视频ns will禄 have affordable and accessible quality healthcare.
3 All 糖心直播视频ns will be禄 civically informed and engaged to better ourselves, our families, our禄 communities, and our government.
4 糖心直播视频ns will have禄 affordable and accessible quality social and mental health services.
5 糖心直播视频ns will禄 eliminate violence, including (but not limited to) sexual, physical and禄 emotional abuse.
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糖心直播视频 Spirit
We will endeavor to build a sustainable and vibrant 糖心直播视频, united by our commitment to the 糖心直播视频 Spirit, which celebrates not only the unique history of our state, but the rich heritage stemming from the diverse culture that each person brings to the Last Frontier.
Goals:
1 糖心直播视频ns will know禄 about 糖心直播视频.
2 糖心直播视频ns will be禄 engaged in government.
3 糖心直播视频ns will禄 celebrate our diversity and frontier spirit as a means to unify the state.
4 糖心直播视频ns will have禄 the opportunity to live traditional and unique lives.
5 The Spirit of 糖心直播视频禄 will be passed on to each generation.