County Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles hosted a community meeting with residents and local officials Wednesday at the Silver Spring Civic Building to discuss topics including safety, youth engagement, and business partnerships.
It was the fourth of five community conversations that Sayles is hosting. She hopes residents walk away more knowledgable about the role of local stakeholders and local government, as well as the current state of affairs for young people and opportunities for young people.
“If we don’t find programs, services, workforce development opportunities to engage our youth and divert them to the appropriate pathways so that they can lead successful and thriving lives… we will lose them,” Sayles told MCM. “We cannot afford to lose one child.”
County Police Acting Assistant Chief David McBain said the purpose of the meeting is around youth engagement and what the community can do about youth — “about stopping them from having time to think about committing crimes or just giving them positive engagement opportunities that keeps them from making mistakes.”
County Recreation Director Robin Riley said the recreation department is focusing on closing the gap between elementary school, middle school, and high school students and making sure there is a pipeline for programs and services.
“So that a young person who’s in elementary school gets an enriching opportunity after school during the summer,” and that goes all the way up through high school, Riley said. “Hopefully we can get them to come to work for us.”
Residents discussed ideas like more crisis outreach team members, spreading more awareness about opportunities for youth, and using more youth leaders. There were multiple ideas related to better communication.
Sayles said she is committed to reflecting on feedback received and creating a plan for how to move forward to ensure safe communities focused on youth engagement are a priority. She plans to work with councilmembers, stakeholders and the County Executive to put some energy and initiatives behind recommendations that come forth.
The final meeting in Sayles’ series is Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Office at 4805 Edgemoor Lane. Afterward, Sayles will welcome more feedback.
Speakers noted Fortune Magazine recently chose Silver Spring as the best place to live for families.
