Santa Barbara Youth Council reports record attendance at 'Youth Speak Up' and names Harriet Miller award winner

Jeremy Solano Beltran, chair of the Santa Barbara Youth Council, reported to the Parks and Recreation Commission on March 26 that the council selected Fatima Arias Sarate as the recipient of this year’s Harriet Miller Youth Leadership Award and hosted a highly attended “Youth Speak Up” forum.

The Youth Speak Up event, held March 1, drew about 50 attendees, the council said, and featured round‑table discussions and a panel addressing sustainability, mental health, diversity, equity and inclusion, and the City of Santa Barbara’s State Street master plan. Solano Beltran told the commission the event included panelists from city sustainability staff and local organizations and that the council is preparing a report summarizing findings for commissioners.

Why it matters: the Youth Council provides a formal channel for teens to engage with city policy and planning, offer perspectives on parks and civic programs, and bring forward issues that affect young residents.

Panelists and participation Solano Beltran listed panelists who joined the event: Hilary Allen, environmental scientist with the City of Santa Barbara (sustainability and resilience); Michelle Holmes, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Crane Country Day School; Hussain Grimsey, public information officer and chief of strategy and community engagement at the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness; and Tess Harris, State Street master planner in the City of Santa Barbara Community Development Department. The council organized round‑table discussions with teen attendees and said it will submit a written report to the commission summarizing input and recommendations.

Council priorities and next steps The youth council said it is recruiting new members for the next cycle and conducting interviews prior to the City Council’s final appointment process. Solano Beltran said the youth council would welcome additional opportunities to hear briefings from the Parks and Recreation Commission to inform future youth involvement on commission matters.

Ending: Commissioners thanked the Youth Council for the report and several offered to attend the council’s next meeting; the commission’s liaison indicated plans to join an upcoming session.