Speaking to the Future: My Time with 5th Graders at Lakes Elementary
On Monday, October 21, I had the honor of speaking to a group of 5th graders at Lakes Elementary about local government and my role as a Trustee. The time was not just an educational opportunity for the students, but a fun perspective for me on our community's awareness and involvement.
We started with some facts about our area. For instance, did you know that Cannon Township, has over 14,000 residents? This is interesting because it actually surpasses the population of Rockford, which has around 6,500 people. Many assume Rockford is the larger community, but numbers tell a different story!
The core of our discussion revolved around the principle that our government is "by the people, for the people, and of the people." This concept empowers us to initiate change if we're dissatisfied with how things are managed. Any citizen can run for office - you don’t need a degree or formal training. (However, I did encourage them that they def should go to school still!)
I shared that my primary responsibility as a Trustee is ensuring we serve the best interests of the Township by responsibly managing their parents money to support essential services such as roads, sewers, schools, trails, parks, fire, and police departments.
I also shared with them how we put a lot of thought into development through groups like the Planning Commission.
Then I shared how a significant part of my job involves listening—a cornerstone of our representative democracy.
I encouraged the students to stay informed about who is running for office and to understand the impact these positions hold on their daily lives.
I asked, by raising your hand let me know if you know who is running for president and then I said who are your Trustees? And besides now knowing me, they didn’t know any of the other Board members. And everyone knew who was running for President.
I shared how local government effects their lives much more than the president does.
I closed our session with a few guiding principles I hold dear:
Believe in yourself; there are no limits.
Work hard and be consistent.
Be kind; it matters.
There's no easy path to success.
And lastly, just do it! Take action towards your goals and don't hesitate to make a positive impact, however small it may seem.
Engaging with the young minds at Lakes Elementary was fun and incredibly inspiring for me. (It’s my favorite part of being a Trustee!) It's encounters like these that remind me of the impact of our roles in shaping not just current but future generations.
Also, extra special because one the 5th graders was my son, Blake Slaydon.
I’ve reached out to all the schools in Cannon Township, and will be presenting at Rockford Christian on 10.30.24. If you have a group that you’d like me to speak at feel free to reach out! jes@swiftprinting.com or 616-915-5370.
