Society needs to ask itself if it wants young people in leadership roles. If ‘Yes’, then it needs to step aside and mentor/foster young people's leadership skills
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| Gavin Dew, founder of the Forum for Millennial Leadership (FML) |
On
Thursday, at the UBCM annual meeting which was held in Whistler, Gavin Dew, founder of the Forum for Millennial Leadership (FML) spoke
at a session entitled, “Engaging Millennials”.
At the session, he spoke of millennial leadership, polling on millennials
in politics, why millennials are a growing electoral force, and why we should
help.
My nephew Steve Forseth, Cariboo Regional District Area “D” representative, attended the workshop session and when I asked him about the session he stated:
My nephew Steve Forseth, Cariboo Regional District Area “D” representative, attended the workshop session and when I asked him about the session he stated:
“The session Engaging Millennial's was an
interesting one, lots of tips on how a local government can start up a youth
council, and an engaging session on how to get more young people involved in
local government.”
Young people in public leadership is not a new concept, but it is not an easy journey. Perhaps one of the very reasons the Forum for Millennial Leadership was formed, and why on Tuesday (Sept 18th) they’ll be holding a leadership conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre, with some fairly big heavyweights on the BC political scene as part of their panels.
One of the workshops will include elected political leaders sharing their stories of being elected young, learning the ropes, and encountering, and overcoming, age-related obstacles in public service. The panel will be made up of Michael Wiebe (Commissioner, Vancouver Park Board) … Bowinn Ma (BC MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale) … Brad West (Port Coquitlam City Councillor) … and Michelle Stilwell (BC MLA for Parksville-Qualicum) will be presenting tips for young aspiring public leaders, and showcasing how young candidates can become the next leaders of our cities, province and nation.
Another workshop, to be moderated by Richard Zussman, (Online Reporter, Global News) will showcase some of the qualified and motivated first-time Millennial candidates who are running for office in the metro-Vancouver region. Topics at that session will include why are they running for office, and what they stand for? … how their platforms and priorities differ from older candidates, and from one another … and how heir candidacy been received to-date.
The conference will also discuss breaking down barriers to millennial political participation -- such as the fact only 26 per cent of 18 to 34-year olds believe candidates their age are taken seriously.
Clearly something needs to change, according to the Forum for Millennial Leaderships Gavin Dew.
Young people in public leadership is not a new concept, but it is not an easy journey. Perhaps one of the very reasons the Forum for Millennial Leadership was formed, and why on Tuesday (Sept 18th) they’ll be holding a leadership conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre, with some fairly big heavyweights on the BC political scene as part of their panels.
One of the workshops will include elected political leaders sharing their stories of being elected young, learning the ropes, and encountering, and overcoming, age-related obstacles in public service. The panel will be made up of Michael Wiebe (Commissioner, Vancouver Park Board) … Bowinn Ma (BC MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale) … Brad West (Port Coquitlam City Councillor) … and Michelle Stilwell (BC MLA for Parksville-Qualicum) will be presenting tips for young aspiring public leaders, and showcasing how young candidates can become the next leaders of our cities, province and nation.
Another workshop, to be moderated by Richard Zussman, (Online Reporter, Global News) will showcase some of the qualified and motivated first-time Millennial candidates who are running for office in the metro-Vancouver region. Topics at that session will include why are they running for office, and what they stand for? … how their platforms and priorities differ from older candidates, and from one another … and how heir candidacy been received to-date.
The conference will also discuss breaking down barriers to millennial political participation -- such as the fact only 26 per cent of 18 to 34-year olds believe candidates their age are taken seriously.
Clearly something needs to change, according to the Forum for Millennial Leaderships Gavin Dew.
My
nephew Steve Forseth agrees with that statement as well, because when I asked
about his decision to run during the Last municipal and regional district
elections, he said to me:
"How we do that really boils down to voters'
allowing themselves to take a chance on young people in local government. If it’s
not successful, you can vote them out at the next election.” He continued, “You can't get experience without a job, and can't get a job without
experience.”
FML founder Gavin Dew seems to concur … or perhaps it’s the other way around? Regardless Drew says, “All generations are ready to see younger people step up. There may be those who cling to the mantra that young people aren’t ready, or don’t vote, but millennial voter turnout is increasing.”
“More importantly, 77 per cent of voters over 55 want to elect younger leaders. If a new generation of municipal leaders is elected it will be because seniors helped vote them in.”
It’s not just up to those of us with a few (many 😊) grey hairs however that need to play a part. According to Dew, “If you’re a young person, get involved. Refuse to be reduced to a stereotype and relegated to the sidelines. Demand to be taken seriously — and earn it.”
“Be living proof that millennials are neither entitled nor disengaged. Every single one of us, in the most-connected generation in history, can educate ourselves on the issues, interact with the candidates, volunteer our time or find a few dollars to support a candidate.”
That’s probably one of the big reasons for Tuesday’s forum, being held at the Vancouver Convention Centre … and why people are being encouraged to join a discussion on the millennial generation as they speak in their own words, and to hear the words of others on the topic.
Another one of the panels will cut through the stereotypes and simplifications, using the experience and research they have accumulated. Again, showing the depth of people featured at the forum, this panel will be made up of Mario Canseco, President, Research Co. … Anna Lilly, Senior Vice President & Partner, Fleishman Hillard HighRoad … Grace Lore, Professor at the University of Victoria … and Stephen von Sychowski, President, Vancouver & District Labour Council. At this workshop, discussion will range from the divide between policymakers and millennial voters, to how gender factors into politics, and more.
FML asks … “What are the challenges that qualified and motivated Millennials who are running for office currently face? What are they doing to overcome them? And, what do Millennial candidates see in our country’s future?”
They then attempt to answer that by stating … “Perhaps it’s the stereotypes. Somehow a swath of the country has decided that Millennials – the largest generation on the continent – are entitled and disengaged whiners, uniformly unready to lead. While obviously categorically untrue, the incorrect opinions set a difficult tone for Millennials seeking public office.”
That makes sense to me, given that Generation “X” elected Cariboo Regional District elected official, Steve Forseth said when asked, “Society needs to ask itself if it wants young people in leadership roles. If the answer is ‘Yes’, then it needs to step aside and mentor/foster young people's leadership skills.”
For more information and a complete conference schedule, visit electmillennials.ca. It sounds like a day well worth being part of, and time well-spent, no matter what your age … which is why I encourage you to attend the conference.
In Kamloops, I’m Alan Forseth, and I hope you’ll join the discussion on this or any other topic presented here. Do you agree … disagree? Post your thoughts in the Comment Section directly below.
FML founder Gavin Dew seems to concur … or perhaps it’s the other way around? Regardless Drew says, “All generations are ready to see younger people step up. There may be those who cling to the mantra that young people aren’t ready, or don’t vote, but millennial voter turnout is increasing.”
“More importantly, 77 per cent of voters over 55 want to elect younger leaders. If a new generation of municipal leaders is elected it will be because seniors helped vote them in.”
It’s not just up to those of us with a few (many 😊) grey hairs however that need to play a part. According to Dew, “If you’re a young person, get involved. Refuse to be reduced to a stereotype and relegated to the sidelines. Demand to be taken seriously — and earn it.”
“Be living proof that millennials are neither entitled nor disengaged. Every single one of us, in the most-connected generation in history, can educate ourselves on the issues, interact with the candidates, volunteer our time or find a few dollars to support a candidate.”
That’s probably one of the big reasons for Tuesday’s forum, being held at the Vancouver Convention Centre … and why people are being encouraged to join a discussion on the millennial generation as they speak in their own words, and to hear the words of others on the topic.
Another one of the panels will cut through the stereotypes and simplifications, using the experience and research they have accumulated. Again, showing the depth of people featured at the forum, this panel will be made up of Mario Canseco, President, Research Co. … Anna Lilly, Senior Vice President & Partner, Fleishman Hillard HighRoad … Grace Lore, Professor at the University of Victoria … and Stephen von Sychowski, President, Vancouver & District Labour Council. At this workshop, discussion will range from the divide between policymakers and millennial voters, to how gender factors into politics, and more.
FML asks … “What are the challenges that qualified and motivated Millennials who are running for office currently face? What are they doing to overcome them? And, what do Millennial candidates see in our country’s future?”
They then attempt to answer that by stating … “Perhaps it’s the stereotypes. Somehow a swath of the country has decided that Millennials – the largest generation on the continent – are entitled and disengaged whiners, uniformly unready to lead. While obviously categorically untrue, the incorrect opinions set a difficult tone for Millennials seeking public office.”
That makes sense to me, given that Generation “X” elected Cariboo Regional District elected official, Steve Forseth said when asked, “Society needs to ask itself if it wants young people in leadership roles. If the answer is ‘Yes’, then it needs to step aside and mentor/foster young people's leadership skills.”
For more information and a complete conference schedule, visit electmillennials.ca. It sounds like a day well worth being part of, and time well-spent, no matter what your age … which is why I encourage you to attend the conference.
In Kamloops, I’m Alan Forseth, and I hope you’ll join the discussion on this or any other topic presented here. Do you agree … disagree? Post your thoughts in the Comment Section directly below.
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