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Youth commission schedules July 16 retreat at Safe and Sound; members weigh timing and activities
Summary
Staff told commissioners the retreat will be July 16 at Safe and Sound. Commissioners discussed start time (options included midday or 2–2:30 p.m.), length, team-building formats and whether the meeting and ceremony after the retreat should be streamed.
Julia Balestrieri of the Office of Strategy, Budget and Performance told the commission the youth commission retreat is scheduled for July 16 and will be held at Safe and Sound.
Balestrieri described options for timing and format and asked commissioners for feedback. She said planners had considered a 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. schedule (lunch+afternoon activities) or a later 2–2:30 p.m. start with activities through 5 p.m., followed by an early dinner and the commission meeting and completion ceremony. “We made a decision to put your guys' retreat on the same…and I sent an email about this too. On the same day as the July of the whole meeting,” she said.
Safe and Sound staff confirmed the organization will host and help plan team-building. Commissioners favored a shorter afternoon block (roughly two to two-and-a-half hours of retreat activities) rather than a full-day session. Several commissioners said they preferred in-person activities and suggested interactive problem-solving exercises previously used at South Shore as a model. Commissioner Burrett and others recommended mixing “fun” ice-breakers with strategy and priority-setting sessions.
Balestrieri and Teneen Rucker (program manager, Safe and Sound) said team-building activities will combine social and strategic elements; Safe and Sound will tailor exercises to the commission’s needs. Commissioners discussed logistics: the retreat will be in-person at Safe and Sound and the following ceremony and meeting may be in-person only (not streamed) depending on site technology.
The retreat was presented as a planning and evaluative opportunity: commissioners will be asked to review priority areas, consider bylaws topics and think about recruitment and outreach strategies. No formal vote occurred on the retreat agenda or scheduling at the meeting.
