Voices

Kelly (Margetts) Pennington,
Parent and member of the Galt Area Youth Coalition

"I sincerely believe that the Galt Area Youth Coalition has impacted our community in a positive way, because at every study session regarding school district issues, our youth have stood and been heard. They feel empowered.

"My son came to me a few weeks ago and asked if he could get signatures to send to a School Site Council meeting I attended that represented an opposing position to a school district issue. In one day he managed to collect 105 signatures. This was just a quick “pass something around” at lunch spiral-bound notebook, created by a student who really never had a vested interest in his community. I have always been a civic-minded individual, but I didn’t know how to share this with my children. The youth coalition has taught me, as a parent, how to view my ‘child’ as a young adult, and has taught my young adult how to step up and be HEARD. I have never been more proud.

"I frankly don’t care what position a person takes politically ― I simply care that people take a position!!! Thank you for giving many of our Galt area youth the opportunity to learn how to be heard in a productive and positive manner regardless of their positions. WAY TO GO! This, of course, has happened with the combined efforts of Galt Joint Union Elementary School District staff and the youth coalition working together for a better community!!! WOOOOOO WEEEEEE"

The Galt Area Youth Coalition is a REACH Community Action coalition. Learn about all seven Community Action coalitions on the Community Action page.