AT THESE PANELS OR THESE EVENTS WHEN I'M HOSTING A WORKSHOP AT A PANEL I THINK TO MAKE A LOT OF LARGE SCALE CHANGE YOU HAVE TO START SMALL HAVING ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH TEACHERS THAT'S REALLY REWARDING.

REALLY GRATIFIED WE TAKE LOT OUT OF THOSE EXPERIENCES WHENEVER IT HAS THOSE KINDS OF MOMENTS.

>> GREAT TO SEE HIGH SCHOOLERS EMPOWERED TO BE ACTIVE.

AND TO BE ENGAGED.

THAT'S FANTASTIC.

NEXT GUEST IS AUSTIN HE LIVES IN BURLINGTON WORKS TO FURTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY IN VERMONT.

HE STUDIED COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT WHEN HE'S NOT WORKING AUSTIN CAN BE FOUND BIKING, HIKING OR CLIMBING RIGHT HERE IN BEAUTIFUL VERMONT.

>> WE'RE AT A VERY INTERESTING TIME FOR THE HUMAN SPECIES WHERE WE'RE ON THE CUSP OF THE TOTAL CLIMATE CATASTROPHE.

IT CAN SERVE AS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY HOW WE DO OUR DAY TOE DAY BUSINESS, START TRANSITIONING TO NONFOSSIL FUEL ENERGY SOURCE, WITH THAT WE CAN GROW OUR ECONOMY.

WE CAN BUILD JOBS WE CAN START SETTING OUT AND CREATING INDUSTRY IN THIS STATE THE POTENTIAL THAT WE ALL HAVE.

EVERY YEAR WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING INTO THE WORKFORCE AND TAKE UP THESE NEW TRAITS AS SOLAR INSTALLER OR I'VE SPOKEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED CLIMBING SKILLS LIKE I LIKE TO DO I LIKE TO ROCK CLIMB.

PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE THOSE SKILLS TO CLIMB WOOD TURBINES AND DO MAINTENANCE.

CONSISTENTLY BEEN THE RALLY FOR THE PLANET, YOUTH CLIMATE LOBBY DAY, REALLY -- LIKE OF INTEREST TO THIS GROUP I'M SURE IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO IT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I'D URGE YOU TO LOOK IT UP AND TRY TO GET YOUR SCHOOL TO GO AND REPRESENT.

THAT IS ALWAYS A REAL EXCITING TIME I SPENT LOT OF TIME IN MONTPELIER AS YOUNG PERSON, VERY UNDER REPRESENTED TO SEE STATE HOUSE LAWN FULL OF HIGH SCHOOLERS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO JUST HAVE COME WITH A MESSAGE OF PEOPLE AND THE PLANET BEFORE PROFIT.

>> THANK YOU, AUSTIN.

ALYSSE SHE GRADUATES FROM UVM WHERE SHE STUDIED HIS TERRY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

AFTER COLLEGE SHE SERVED AS AMERICORPS MEMBER WITH THE VERMONT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

SHE'S PACKS FAMILIAR ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, THE ENVIRONMENT AND ORGANIZING ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

VARIOUS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE ISSUES IS ONE OF THE LEAD ORGANIZERS OF THE WOMEN'S MARCH ON MONTPELIER IN JANUARY.

WELCOME.

>> I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.

YES, I'M LEAD ORGANIZER OF RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY VERMONT WHICH MEANS THAT I AM ORGANIZING AND BUILDING UP IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO ADVANCE CERTAIN ISSUES AROUND ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN THE STATE.

I GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE DECISIONS ARE MADE ALL THE TIME IN MONTPELIER, IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE PROFOUND IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE STATE.

OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS THEY ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT YOU AND I, FOR EXAMPLE, THE U.S.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHICH IS GOING TO LEAVE 24 MILLION PEOPLE WITHOUT HEALTHCARE.

SHOULD THAT PASS.

TO ME CREATING CHANGE AND BEING INVOLVED MEANS PUSHING FOR A SOCIETY AND FOR POLICY THAT ARE GOING TO ENABLE THE AVERAGE FOLKS LIKE OURSELVES TO LIVE HEALTHY AND SAFE AND DIGNIFIED LIVES.

HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET.

UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE.

THAT IS WHY I REALLY AM PASSIONATE ABOUT ORGANIZING ON A LOCAL LEVEL BECAUSE I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED A SAY IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE BENEFITTING FROM THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE.

I KNOW I WANT TO SAY IN THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE THAT IMPACT ME AND MY FAMILY AND OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PLANET, SO WE'RE THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.

I THINK ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE THIS IS KIND OF OUR TASK AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WILLING GO TO BE INHERITING IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE INVOLVED NOW IN PART OF THAT PROCESS.

AND I WAS ALSO PART OF ORGANIZING THE WOMEN'S MARCH ON MONTPELIER WHICH BROUGHT 20,000 VERMONTERS OUT TO THE STATE HOUSE LAWN.

IT'S VERY OBVIOUS PEOPLE WANT TO CREATE THAT CHANGE CHANGE WE'RE SEEING THAT BOTH IN VERMONT AND NATIONALLY.

>> WHEN I WAS -- GOT CHANCE TO SPEAK, IT WAS QUITE AN HONOR, LOOKING OUT AT THAT INCREDIBLE CROWD THEN LEARNING LATER CERTAINLY PER CAPITA MEANS LOTS OF THINGS, ONE OF THE BIG BIGGEST PER CAPITA RALLY IN THE COUNTRY SO CLEARLY PEOPLE IN VERMONT REALLY FELT THE NEED TO COME OUT AND EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AND SOLIDARITY THAT WAS QUITE AN EVENT.

THANKS FOR ORGANIZING THAT.

HALEY FROM RUTLAND COUNTY, RECENT GRADUATE OF ST.

MICHAEL'S COLLEGE WITH DEGREE IN MEDIA STUDIES, JOURNALISM AND DIGITAL ARTS.

SHE HELPED COORDINATE AND FACILITATE THE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS OF DOZENS OF MENTOR-MENTEE THROUGH LITTLE BROTHER, LITTLE SISTER.

NOW SHE'S JOINED AS A MEMBER OF AMERICORPS VISTA.

SHE'S WORKING TO GROW OPPORTUNITIES FOR MENTOR-MENTEE PAIRS TO SPEND TIME AND VOLUNTEER TOGETHER.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR EVERYTHING ME.

GROWING UP I WAS ALWAYS VERY INVOLVED, MY PARENTS HAD ME IN VOLUNTEERING AND BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY FROM A REALLY YOUNG AGE.

I THINK WHEN YOU'RE LITTLE THAT FEELING OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS HUGE.

SO, THAT DEFINITELY FOLLOWED ME RIGHT TO COLLEGE WHERE I GOT INVOLVED WITH LITTLE BROTHER LITTLE SISTER, WHICH IS A MENTORING PROGRAM THAT PAIRS STUDENTS AT ST.

MICHAEL'S COLLEGE WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM JFK ELEMENTARY.

AND BEING ABLE TO SEE THE IMPACT THAT THE COLLEGE HAD ON THESE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS WAS LIFE CHANGING.

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY OWN MENTEE, TAYLOR, HAS CAUSED ME TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING VERY DIFFERENTLY.

SO THAT'S WHY AFTER COLLEGE I WANTED TO CONTINUE IN THE MENTORING FIELD AND I GOT INVOLVED WITH MOBIUS THROUGH AMERICORPS.

THAT IS THE MENTORING PARTNERSHIP.

I THINK MENTORING IS VERY COOL MOSTLY BECAUSE IT DIPPED ITS TOES IN SO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.

MENTORING HELPS TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY, EDUCATION AND SO MANY THINGS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AWARENESS.

I THINK IT'S VERY COOL TO BE INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING THAT MAKES SUCH AN IMPACT ON SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.

>> DOES IT HELP YOUNG PEOPLE EXPLORE DIRECTION THEY MIGHT WANT TO GO, MAYBE HAVE A MENTOR IN A FIELD THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, THEY CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT IT OR LEARN MAYBE THAT ISN'T WHAT I WANT TO DO.

DOES IT HELP IN THOSE WAYS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF MY BIG PROJECT IS THE MENTOR DISCOUNT CARD WHICH BUSINESSES ACROSS VERMONT OFFER GENEROUS DISCOUNTS TO GO SORT OF SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AT THEIR BUSINESS, JUST TO EXPERIENCE WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE OTHERWISE.

WIDEN THEIR HORIZONS THAT WAY.

>> WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE MIC FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND IDEAS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

WE ALSO DO AGAIN WELCOME FOLKS TO SEND IN YOUR THOUGHTS BY TEXT OR E-MAIL OR POSTING IT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE WE'LL GET THEM IN TO THE STUDIO WE CAN ASK OUR PANELISTS.

IN THE MEANTIME AS WE'RE GETTING PREPARED FOR SOME OF THOSE, DID ANY OF YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHY GET INVOLVED.

ANYBODY HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT THA THAT?

>> I CAN JUMP IN.

I THINK MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN REALLY COOL BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MIX A LOT OF THINGS THAT I LOVE.

MY DEGREE IS IN MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THAT PASSION OF MINE AND PUT IT TOWARDS SOMETHING ELSE THAT I REALLY LOVE IN MENTORING, SERVING IN THIS WAY.

I THINK YOU DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS CONSIDER THAT THERE'S SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED THAT CAN UTILIZE THE SKILL THAT YOU HAVE OR SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND PUT IT TOWARDS SOMETHING ELSE AND COMBINE IN COOL WAYS.

>> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO CHIME IN ON THAT ONE?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD SAY THAT YOU LOOK AT MANY OF THE ISSUES WE DEAL WITH.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCE AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE YOUNGER PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS CONSEQUENCES.

SO ONLY MAKES SENSEF ANYTHING, FOR YOUR OWN SELF INTERESTS AS YOUNG PERSON YOU SHOULD STEP UP START ENGAGING IN THESE CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK IT'S INTIMIDATING TO A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT WAS FOR ME, BECAUSE YOU WALK IN AND YOU THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF ALL THESE PEOPLE.

I'M NOT AN EXPERT.

I'M NOT THIS.

I'M NOT THAT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE'S NO LITERACY TEST IN AN ISSUE FOR SOMEONE TO GET INVOLVED.

I THINK I DARE SAY THAT I KNOW 17-YEAR-OLD, IS THAT PROBABLY KNOW SOME ISSUES BETTER THAN LEGISLATORS, NO OFFENSE TO ANY OF OUR FANTASTIC LEGISLATORS IN THIS STATE.

BUT PEOPLE FOLLOW THEIR PASSION, IF SOMEONE HAS AN ISSUE THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT I THINK THEY SHOULD SPEAK UP ON IT.

>> DEFINITELY.

I REGULARLY TALK WITH YOUNG GROUPS AROUND THE STATE, TALKING TO HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS AND OTHERS ABOUT HOW YOUR EXPERIENCE IS YOUR EXPERTISE HOW ULTIMATELY EACH LEGISLATOR COMES TO THAT POSITION THROUGH THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE.

IT COULD BE STONE MASON, COULD IT BE A TEACHER, A TRUCK DRIVER, IT COULD BE A DOCTOR, COULD BE A FARMER.

EACH LEGISLATOR KNOWS THEIR ARENA PARTICULARLY WELL AND EACH LEGISLATOR KNOWS THEIR COMMUNITIES HOPEFULLY FAIRLY WELL BUT DOESN'T KNOW EVERY SINGLE ISSUE IN GREAT DEPTH AND WE LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

WE ALSO LEARN FROM OUR CONSTILT WANTS.

TRYING TO GET MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTY EVEN IF SOME CAN'T VOTE YET THAT PARTICIPATING AND GIVING YOUR EXPERIENCE HOW YOU SIGH THE WORLD TODAY HELPS YOUR LEGISLATOR SEE MORE AND LEARN MORE.

SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ADVICE THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO GIVE OR TO YOUR PEERS OR YOURSELF TO LEGISLATOR SOME OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE, ALEX, HOW TO GET INVOLVED.

>> I DEFINITELY RESONATE WITH THAT ESPECIALLY IN SYSTEMS LIKE SCHOOLS, THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST EXPERIENCED WITH TAKING ACTIVE ROLES IN MY SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE THAT MAKE DECISIONS, HEAR THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENTS OR OF YOUTH THEN IT'S REALLY VITAL THAT YOU HEAR THE EXPERIENCES AND YOU HEAR THE OPINIONS AND YOU HEAR THE TWO CENTS THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE TO GIVE ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEM.

SO, I DEFINITELY SAY THAT A LOT OF STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICES AREN'T HEARD OR MIGHT FEEL HELPLESS BECAUSE THERE ARE ALL THESE ADULTS THAT MAKE THE DECISIONS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THEY LIVE IN.

I ALSO SAY THAT THERE ARE TON OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED AND THAT THESE OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT NOT COME ACROSS, I THINK YOU SOMETIMES HAVE TO LOOK FOR THEM YOURSELF.

BUT I THINK MOST OF THE TIME IF THERE ARE LEGISLATORS OR THERE ARE TEACHERS, FACULTY AND STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS THAT THEIR VIEW THEY WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY AMPLIFY YOUR VOICE AND ACCEPT YOUR VOICE BE EXCITE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR OPINION AND THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE PACKSAL ABOU ABOUT.

I'D SAY THINGS ARE OUT THERE AND YOU CAN DEFINITELY BE HEARD AND YOUR VOICE WILL BE ACCEPTED AS WELL.

>> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THAT EARLIER?

>> I WAS JUST LISTENING TO HER TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT -- THAT THERE'S A WAY FOR EVERYBODY.

I THINK THAT RESONATES WITH ME A LOT, BECAUSE OF BEING IN AMERICORPS MY FIRST DAY AT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING ON THE FIRST TRAINING I WALKED IN THERE WAS THIS ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVE JUST LIKE I WAS, BUT WE WERE ALL DOING VERY DIFFERENT, VERY COOL THINGS.

THAT'S DEFINITELY AN OPTION FOR YOU WHATEVER YOUR INTEREST IN OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED THERE'S WAY FOR YOU TO DO IT FOR SURE.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER SORT OF A FIRST TIME YOU GOT ENGAGED IN SOME WAY, BECAUSE A PARENT DID SOMETHING THAT YOU WENT WITH THEM TO AN EVENT, WAS IT A TEACHER, JUST SOMETHING YOU CARED ABOUT THAT YOU SAW ON TV OR HEARD ON THE RADIO?

>> YEAH.

I REMEMBER ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME THAT I STARTED TO BECOME POLITICIZED START TO LIKE WAKE UP AS THEY SAY, WAS ACTUALLY MY SOPHOMORE YEAR OF COLLEGE WHEN BRANDS CAME TO A TOWN HALL MEETING THAT WAS THE FACETIME THAT I HAD -- ALSO DURING THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD HEARD ABOUT LIKE ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN SUCH KIND OF LIKE CLEAR TERMS.

AND SO THAT WAS A HUGE WAKE UP CALL FOR ME.

AND REALLY WAS THE SPARK I WOULD SAY OF MY INVOLVEMENT.

>> ALSO SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES YOU OR DO EACH OF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU TO ENGAGE AND BECOME INVOLVED OR -- >> AS I SPOKE EARLIER, I WAS SORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST WHEN I WAS AT UVM AND THEN I LEARNED ABOUT BERNIE SANDERS, HE WAS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AT THE TIME BACK IN '92.

FOR ME IT WAS JUST, WOW, SOMEONE WHO ISN'T NECESSARILY A PART OF THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM, WAS NOT USING ANY CORPORATE, HE SAYS WHAT HE BELIEVES EVEN IF I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH A LOT, YOU KNEW WHERE HE STOOD.

IS THERE -- >> DOESN'T HAVE TO BE POLITICAL.

SOMEONE INSPIRED YOU TO ENGAGE IN CIVICS AND YOUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT ISN'T ALL POLITICS, EITHER, RIGHT?

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SOMETIMES SCARED PEOPLE AWAY ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.

POLITICS, I DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT.

ENGAGING IN YOUR COMMUNITY ISN'T ALWAYS POLITICS, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

ANYBODY HAVE A PERSON LIKE THAT?

>> I KNOW I CAN DEFINITELY SPEAK TO BOTH THE -- HOW I FIRST GOT INVOLVED AND SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES ME.

IT STARTED OFF MIXTURE OF I STARTED FRESHMAN YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THE BROCHURE HAD SAID THERE WAS GSA CLUB BUT AS I DID MY RESEARCH I WASN'T REALLY GETTING ANY RESPONSE ABOUT IT.

AND ALTHOUGH ON PAPER THERE WAS ONE -- THERE WASN'T ACTIVE GSA CLUB, YOU KNOW, THIS IS RIDICULOUS, I WOULD LOVE TO BE PART OF THIS CLUB, I'D LOVE TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS CLUB SERVES.

SO THAT AND GOING TO CAMP OUTRIGHT WHICH IS A CAMP THAT VERMONT ORGANIZES SPECIFICALLY TO HAVE INCLUSIVE AND SAFE SPACE FOR LGDPQ.

I HAD AN AMAZING TIME.

I HEARD THE STORIES OF MY PEERS, SOME IN CELLIBLE THEY'RE THAT I WAS REALLY INSPIRED ME, I REALLY HARNESSED THIS ENERGY AND POSITIVITY AND INCLUSIVITY THAT I FELT AT CAMP I REALLY WANTED TO BRING THAT BACK TO MY OWN COMMUNITY AND TO MY OWN ENVIRONMENT, THAT'S WHAT REALLY MOTIVATED ME TO START A NEW GSA CLUB, REBRAND THAT SPACE FOR OTHER USE.

AND I THINK IN TERMS -- I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC PERSON THAT INSPIRED ME OR THAT I LOOK UP TO, I THINK I GAINED A LOT FROM THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND MY PEERS I GET REALLY MOTIVATE BY HEARING THE STORIES OF OTHERS AND THEIR STRUGGLES, AS THEIR INCREDIBLE SUCCESSES AS WELL.

>> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO CHIME IN ON A PERSON OR EXPERIENCE THAT REALLY KICKED YOU OFF?

>> I WOULD SAY MY PARENTS, THAT'S VERY TYPICAL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY THEIR PARENTS.

BUT I SAY MY PARENTS BECAUSE THEY ENCOURAGED ME FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE TO GET INVOLVED.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE IT REALLY STARTS.

SO IF IT'S PART OF GROWING UP YOU JUST ARE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE OUT THERE AND SERVING, THEN IT CARRIES THROUGH TO YOUR ADULTHOOD.

ONE OF THE PROJECTS I'M WORKING ON HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THAT, CALLED THE MOBIUS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM, TRYING TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MENTOR AND MENTEE PAIRS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

TO INSTILL THAT SENSE OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVEN IF YOU'RE SMALL AND YOU DON'T PEOPLE LIKE YOU CAN.

>> SO, EACH OF YOUR DIFFERENT AREAS OF INTERESTS AND PASSIONS, WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO SAY WHAT YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING VERMONT TODAY AND NOT REALLY A FAIR QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK I KNOW IN POLITICS WE ASK THAT SOMETIMES ON THE CALL PAIN TRAI TRAIL, WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE ISSUE I CAN CARE ABOUT A FEW THINGS AT ONCE.

YOU CAN NAME MORE THAN ONE IF YOU WANT TO.

LET'S REALLY -- WHAT'S REALLY DRIVING RIGHT NOW AS A FRONT BURNER ISSUE?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT GLOBALLY THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE WOULD BE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY FRONT BURNER ALL THE TIME FOR ME.

AND IT'S SYSTEMIC.

AS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT FEED INTO IT, THOSE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL.

POTENTIALLY WHEN ADDRESSING GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE YOU CAN ADDRESS THESE OTHER PROBLEMS.

BUT IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE TO, YOU KNOW, SEE -- CAN CHANGE THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE BECAUSE OF THIS GLOBAL PROBLEM I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT VERMONT'S TOO SMALL TO ACT OR WORK ON THIS.

THAT CONCERNS ME AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING GLOBALLY RIGHT NOW, MOST OF THE ADVANCEMENT THAT'S BEING MADE ON COMBATING GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE IS AT THE CITY LEVEL.

IT'S NOT AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL, IT'S NOT EVEN AT THE EUROPEAN UNION OR COUNTRIES THAT ARE WORKING WITH NAFTA DOING THIS.

ESPECIALLY CITIES, BECAUSE THEN IN A DAY, MAYORS RULE THE WORLD.

I THINK ABOUT VERMONT.

VERMONT'S POPULATION IS KIND OF THE SIZE OF SOME LARGER CITIES OR SMALLER THAN LARGER CITIES.

I THINK WE HAVE A CENTRAL ROLE TO PLAY IN OUR OWN BACK YARD AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO PUSH THE BALL FORWARD ON THAT.

I SAY THAT'S MY BIGGEST FRONT BURNER ISSUE.

>> OTHER THOUGHTS?

>> I MENTIONED THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT WORKING TO GET A LIVABLE WAGE FOR VERMONTERS.

VERMONT IS EXTENSIVE STATE, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STATE TO LIVE IN BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE.

I THINK THAT KIND OF THE CORE -- WHERE WE START TO BE ABLE TO COMBAT A LOT OF THESE OTHER ISSUES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY A HUGE PRESSING ISSUE.

IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING DAY-TO-DAY TO MEET YOUR BASIC NEEDS AND AREN'T MAKING A LIVABLE WAGE ARE STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON YOUR TABLE, THE DAY-TO-DAY STRESSORS THAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING, THE BIG SYSTEMIC ISSUES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE TAKE A BACK SEATED.

SO I SEE ALL OF THESE ISSUES AS BEING INCREDIBLY CONNECTED.

I THINK THAT STARTING IN THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF IMPROVING.

>> PEOPLE LEAVE VERMONT OR NOT ATTRACTING YOUNG FAMILIES TO VERMONT OR YOUNG FOLKS GETTING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE, SOME ARE, SOME AREN'T, IT'S NOT ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY.

I THINK THREE OF YOU WERE BORN IN VERMONT AND ARE STILL HERE.

BUT WHAT SORTS OF THINGS DO YOU THINK YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUR PEERS WITH HERE OR THAT EVEN NOW WITH THE WORLD OF THE INTERNET YOU ARE PEERS WITHIN OTHER PLACES BASED ON THE ISSUES YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND COMMUNICATING WITH.

WHAT DO YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO SEE?

WHERE DO THEY WANT TO LIVE?

WHAT WOULD DRAW MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO VERMONT?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK THAT IF THERE WAS CLEAR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

, YOUNG PEOPLE WILL COME TO IT.

I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT TO OFFER IN TERMS OF LIFESTYLE.

I MEAN, I PERSONALLY LIKE THAT I LIVE WITHIN A COMMUNITY WHERE I CAN KNOW MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I CAN KNOW MY GOVERNOR I CAN KNOW MY STATE REPS AND SENATORS VERY WELL, ACTUALLY.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THE STATE COULD DEFINITELY DO TO APPEAL TO MORE YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE'RE A GENERATION THAT COULD WORK PRIMARILY ONLINE.

WE CAN WORK REMOTE.

LET'S GET HIGH SPEED INTERNET OUT TO EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, SOMEONE COULD POTENTIALLY LIVE OUT IN A DIRT ROAD IN FAIRFIELD AND WORK IN NEW YORK CITY.

THEY COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THIS STATE COULD PUSH THE BALL FORWARD ON.

CERTAINLY, ECONOMIC FACTORS SUCH AS WAGES, IT IS POTENTIALLY EXPENSIVE STATE TO LIVE IN.

YOUNG PEOPLE WILL GO WHERE THEIR WAGES SUPPORT BETTER LIFE.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

I CERTAINLY THINK AS WE MUCH KNOW, AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO IT NOW.

I KNOW FOR ME PERSONALLY HAVING -- BEING ABLE TO STAY ON MY PARENTS' HEALTH INSURANCE AS LONG AS I WAS ABLE TO, THANKS TO AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, DID MAKE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME TO TAKE SOME RISKS.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO FIND A JOB WITH HEALTH INSURANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK WHAT VERMONT CAN DO TO POTENTIALLY FILL WHATEVER CUTBACKS MIGHT HAPPEN UNDER A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THAT AREA MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

>> GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION HERE JUST FOR FUN.

SOMETIMES WE WISH WE HAD A SUPER POWER.

AND IF WE HAD -- IF YOU HAD A SUPERPOWER COULD USE THAT SUPERPOWER IN SOME WAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD DO YOU WITH IT?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

BUT ABILITY TO BE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE AT A TIME WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL I THINK THAT'S FOR EVERYBODY WHETHER YOU'RE SUPER ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR NOT.

I THINK THINGS JUST GET BUSY AND SCHEDULES FILL UP AND BEING ABLE TO BE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE WOULD BE MORE THAN HELPFUL.

>> I THINK KIND OF RELATED TO THAT I WOULD LIKE TO STOP TIME AND JUST LIKE TAKE A PAUSE, TAKE A BREATH, FINISH SOME HOMEWORK THEN CONTINUE.

THAT WOULD BE REALLY NICE.

>> THE ABILITY TO NOT SLEEP.

WE USED TO HAVE A JOKE, THAT HE IS A TRIANGLE AT ONE POINT THERE'S GOOD GRADES, SLEEP AND A SOCIAL LIFE.

YOU ONLY GET TO PICK TWO.

AND WHEN YOU START TO SACRIFICE SLEEP THE OTHER THINGS GO DOWNHILL AS WELL.

SO I I COULDN'T SLEEP THE WORLD WOULD BE MY OYSTER.

>> AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING, I APPRECIATE THAT, NEED MORE SLEEP.

>> I WAS GOING TO GO WITH THE ABILITY TO BE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE AT ONCE, NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP.

I GUESS, I WOULD WANT TO -- I DON'T KNOW, GUESS JUST LIKE THE ABILITY TO SHUT YOUR MIND OFF FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

I GUESS LIKE, YOU KNOW -- YEAH.

>> THERE'S A COMMON THEME AMONGST MANY OF THESE.

YOU THINK THAT IS DIFFERENT FOR TODAY'S YOUTH THAN WHAT YOU'VE EITHER READ OR LEARNED ABOUT FROM 20, 50 OR A HUNDRED YEARS AGO IN TERMS OF THE PULLS IN MANY DIRECTIONS AND THINGS COMING AT YOU THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO DO EVERYTHING?

CAN THAT BE OVERWHELMING?

>> SURE.

I KNOW THAT LIKE GROWING UP THERE'S LOT OF -- I WAS FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE TO DO REALLY WELL IN SCHOOL AND APPLY FOR ALL THESE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GET INTO A GOOD COLLEGE I END UP GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS ON YOUTH TO TAKE THAT SAME PATH.

ESPECIALLY NOW.

LIKE EVERYONE GOES TO COLLEGE THAT'S JUST THE NORM.

SO WHERE AS 50 OR A HUNDRED YEARS AGO THAT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF STRESSORS ON OUR YOUTH TODAY.

I DON'T THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T VOTE AND PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY AT THE VOTING BOOTH, I THINK DO FEEL A LOT OF THE STRESSORS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY.

OUR FEELING IS FEAR.

I THINK SOME POWERLESSNESS THAT GOES WITH THAT, TOO, ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF THAT DECISION MAKING PROCESS TECHNICALLY.

I THINK THAT DEFINITELY THERE ARE LOT MORE STRESSORS.

>> I'D AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT KIND OF RELATES TO SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.

I DEFINITELY WOULD SAY THAT SOCIAL MEDIA HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON HOW AWARE ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES, ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, INTERACTING WITH ONE ANOTHER.

I THINK HAS EMPOWERED YOUTH TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THEM BEFORE.

GIBB I'M NOT REALLY AN EXPERT ON THE FOUR.

>> WE LIVE IN THE MOMENT WE'RE IN, RIGHT?

WE READ ABOUT OR HEAR.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT WITH RESPECT TO SMART PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH YOU'VE JUST RAISED.

JUST SORT OF THE CONSTANT ONSLAUGHT OF INFORMATION ON THE ONE HAND INFORMATION IS A WONDERFUL THING.

YOU HAVE SORT OF THIS AGE WHEN EVERYTHING IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

YOU TYPE IN GOOGLE OR SOME OTHER SEARCH ENGINE, I DON'T ADVERTISE ONE OVER ANOTHER AND YOU CAN FIND ALMOST ANYTHING.

AND SO WHAT SORT OF WAYS YOU THINK YOU CAN BACK AWAY FROM THAT OR IS IT HELPFUL TO BACK AWAY FROM IT OR TO TURN OFF SUCH THINGS.

>> I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY INTERESTING QUESTION.

I PERSONALLY -- IT'S INTERESTING TO BE ONE OF THE LAST GENERATIONS TO NOT SEE THE INTERNET THEN SEE THE INTERNET.

IT HAPPENS KIND OF LIKE THAT I SEE FOR MYSELF I GREW UP MORE RURAL, YOU WENT HOME AFTER SCHOOL, OR AFTER PRACTICE YOU DID -- FOR ME DID BARN CHORES AND STUFF AROUND THE HOUSE.

THEN MAYBE WATCHED A LITTLE TV, DID SOME HOMEWORK AND BED.

AND VERY QUICKLY, IN COLLEGE, SAME KIND OF TIME CONSTRAINTS BUT NOW YOU HAVE A MOBILE DEVICE THAT CAN ACCESS EVERYTHING AND YOU HAVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET AND PEOPLE CAN GET -- TALK TO YOU VERY EASILY AND THEY WANT YOU TO COMMUNICATE BACK NOW THROUGH ANOTHER MEDIUM.

IT JUST ADDS UP.

>> WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE FOR A BRIEF BREAK.

TO HEAR FROM OUR TELEVISION >> WELCOME BACK.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND OUR PANEL ON DISCUSSING YOUTH INVOLVED IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND HOW MORE YOUTH CAN GET ENGAGED AND ALSO HOW FOLKS WITH US TODAY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED.

WE HAVE ALEX, AUSTIN, ALISE AND HALEY JUST DISCUSSING SOCIAL MEDIA AND INFORMATION COMING AT US FROM SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE NEWS AND ALWAYS HAVING SOMETHING IN OUR EAR OR ON OUR SCREEN.

I THINK YOU WERE GOING TO JOIN US WITH THAT.

>> I HIGHLY RECOMMEND MENTORING FOR A LOT OF REASONS BUT THIS ONE ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE IT IS AN ALLOTTED TIME THAT YOU TAKE AND YOU SPEND WITH YOUTH IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT.

SO YOU ARE THROWING A BALL AROUND, YOU'RE GOING FOR A WALK, DOING SOME KIND OF AN ACTIVITY WITH THEM IT'S LIKE A SCHEDULED TIME AWAY FROM ALL THE CRAZY.

IT STARTS OUT KIND OF WEIRD THAT YOU ARE SAID YOU'LLING THIS TIME IN YOUR DAY TO NOT BE DOING ALL THE OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS, BUT I FIND MYSELF LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, IT'S THE BEST PART OF MY WEEK.

SPEND SOME TIME WITH MY MENTEE AND USEFUL THAT I HAVEN'T DONE IN AWHILE.

>> YOU FOCUS WITH ONE PERSON NOT GETTING DISTRACTED BY 20 DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

WE DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE, VERA IS HERE TO ASK A QUESTION.

>> MY NAME IS VERA I HAVE A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS WONDERING HOW VERMONT HAS BEEN A RESOURCE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

>> ANYONE WANT TO JUMP IN ON THAT, GO AHEAD, ALEX.

>> I CAN.

I'VE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE, I THINK VERMONT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE AND HAS A LOT OF EASY WAYS AND EASY METHODS TO ACCESS PLATFORMS WHERE YOU CAN REALLY GET INVOLVED.

I KNOW YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

I THINK BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF IT, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO GET INVOLVED AND TALK TO PEOPLE AND INTERACT WITH PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER, LIKE POSITION, IS THAT ARE SLIGHTLY MORE AUTHORITATIVE, I GUESS, WHICH MAY BE IN OTHER PLACES YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO.

I KNOW THINGS LIKE BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD WAS GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME, THAT I WAS ABLE TO ACCESS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY I WAS IN, THINGS LIKE, I DO A LOT OF FILM WORK ON MY OWN FREE TIME AND HAVING ACCESS TO CONTACTS OR REALLY BEING INVOLVED IS SOMETHING I THINK IS PRETTY UNIQUE TO VERMONT.

AND I ALSO ATTENDED CLEAR YOUTH LEADERSHIP DAY AT THE STATE HOUSE I GOT TO MEET ALL THE REPRESENTATIVES AND THAT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE AND HONORING, I THINK THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET INVOLVED RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS HERE.

HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME I ALSO SAY THAT VERMONT HAS GIVEN ME A FEW SETBACKS.

I THINK ONE THING THAT VERMONT HAS HAD, THIS IS CONNECTING BACK TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS FACING VERMONT.

IT'S NOT AS SPECIFIC BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IN VERMONT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE THIS VERY LIBERAL AND OPEN AND ACCEPTING STATE.

I DO THINK THAT THE STATE OF VERMONT IS A LOT BETTER THAN OTHER STATES OUT THERE.

BUT I THINK IF WE HAVE THE MENTALITY THAT, WELL, THEY'RE ACCEPTING, IT'S HARD TO HAVE SLIGHTLY MORE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, SOMETHING LIKE LGBTQ IDENTITIES AND TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT MIGHT MAKE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

SOMETIMES IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT IF PEOPLE AND THIS MENTALITY IS EVERYTHING IS ALREADY PERFECT AND NOTHING NEEDS TO CHANGE, THAT CAN GET IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS.

THAT COMES FROM SOMEONE WHO INVOLVED WITH A SMALLER CLIMATE LIKE A SCHOOL COMMUNITY I'D SAY.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING VERMONT HAS LOT OF PROS AND CONS JUST AS ANY PLACE DOES.

>> ANYBODY WANT TO CHIME IN ON THE QUESTION?

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS INTERESTED IN THINKING ABOUT WAS FROM RUTLAND AND HARDWICK AND SOUTH BURLINGTON WHICH ARE THREE VERY UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT KIND OF COMMUNITIES FROM RURAL TO, DO YOU THINK SORT OF WHAT YOUTH EXPERIENCES DO YOU THINK SORT OF IMPACTED HOW YOU'VE BECOME ENGAGED TODAY.

IS IT SIMILAR, I'D BE INTERESTED TO FIND OUT OR UNIQUE, REALLY SORT OF MORE RURAL AREA, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OF THE COUNTY YOU'RE FROM, MORE RURAL OR THE SKI AREAS OR SOUTH BURLINGTON FOR LOT OF VERMONTERS BASICALLY RIGHT HERE IN THE BIG CITY.

THOUGHTS ABOUT REFLECTING ON WHERE YOU'VE COME FROM THAT HAS LED TO YOU WHERE YOU ARE.

>> YEAH.

FUNNY THAT YOU SAY THAT ABOUT ALREADY RING TON BEING A BIG CITY BECAUSE I GO HOME NOW IT'S LIKE A JOKE.

I LIVE IN BURLINGTON, BUT, YEAH, I THINK GROWING UP IN A RURAL PART OF THE STATE IN HARDWICK, IN A PRETTY WORKING CLASS AREA IN A WORKING CLASS FAMILY, I THINK THAT GETTING OUT OF THAT FOR ME WAS A VERY EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE, I DON'T MEAN GETTING OUT OF IT AS IN LIKE FLEEING BUT COMING TO BURLINGTON AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I DID TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND BE LIKE, WOW, LIKE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I EXPERIENCED GROWING UP ARE VERY -- THEY'RE VERY INTEGRATED IN TO WHY I DO THE WORK THAT I DO.

I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF POSITIVES, I'M ALSO SOME NEGATIVE WAYS TO BE HONEST.

BUT, YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT MY BACKGROUND DEFINITELY INSPIRES THE WORK THAT I DO TODAY.

>> YOU WANT TO CHIME IN?

>> I'D SAY, MY DESIRE TO SERVE AND TO BE IN MY COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER CAME FROM THE RUTLAND AREA TO WHERE I GREW UP.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THINGS THERE BUT I WOULD SAY MENTORING SPECIFICALLY I FOUND WHEN I CAME TO BURLINGTON AND THERE IS A GREAT MENTORING -- LOTS OF PROGRAMS IN THE AREA, LOTS OF MENTORS BUT I'VE NOT BEEN AS INVOLVED WITH IT THERE AS I HAVE HERE.

BUT THE VERY COOL THING ABOUT MOBIUS IS STATEWIDE, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THIS ONE PASSION OF MINE MENTORING AND HOW IT PLAYS OUT ALL ACROSS THE STATE IN DIFFERENT AREAS, THAT'S BEEN EYE OPENING FOR ME.

>> GROWING UP IN VERMONT AS A YOUNG PERSON, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACED?

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU'VE BECOME ENGAGED AND HOW YOU'VE BECOME INVOLVED, BUT IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SHARE SOME CHALLENGES AND STRUGGLES, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY'RE EXPLORING THE WORLD IN THEIR MINDSET IN HIGH SCHOOL ESPECIALLY YOU START REALLY BRANCHING OUT AND SEEING WHAT'S POSSIBLE AGAIN WE TALKED ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT WE LEARN SO MANY THINGS GOING ON AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD STRUGGLE PEOPLE ARE FACING, CAR-TORN AREAS, SUCCESS PEOPLE ARE HAVING IN IN SOME COUNTRIES, UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE OR WHAT NOT.

BUT EVERYONE GROWING UP SOMETIMES WITH ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ALSO FACES STRUGGLES.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS SOME OF THE STRUGGLES EITHER YOU OR YOU CAN TALK ABOUT A FRIEND OR PEER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO NAME THEM, THAT YOU SAW REALLY STRUGGLING IN WAYS THAT YOU SAW FRIENDS HELPING EACH OTHER OR YOU SAW OTHER WAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY HELPS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRUGGLES YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FACING TODAY?

>> I KNOW I CAN -- LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND HAVING ACCESS TO ALL THIS NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT INJUSTICES HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD OR IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

AND I KNOW PERSONALLY A STRUGGLE THAT I FACED AS A YOUNG PERSON WHICH I KNOW WE'VE ALSO MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT BEFORE, IS HOW TO COPE WITH FRUSTRATION AND THE FEELING THAT THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

INSTEAD OF TYING THIS FRUSTRATION AND USING IT AS MOTIVATION TO DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE, I THINK A LOT OF YOUTH, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE UNDER 18 OR UNABLE TO VOTE CAN FEEL REALLY HELPLESS.

I THINK THAT HAS TO DO WITH THIS NEW ABILITY TO LEARN SO MUCH FROM WITHIN THE WORLD.

BUT ALSO WITHOUT IT, IF THEY FACE ANY KIND OF INJUSTICE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTS, IT CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICES AREN'T HEARD.

THE SOLUTION TO THAT I THINK IS TO GET INVOLVED, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THAT EASY.

I'D SAY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MY AGE STRUGGLE WITH.

>> I WOULD SAY FOR ME, MYSELF, I DIDN'T MOVE TO VERMONT UNTIL A LITTLE BIT MORE OUT OF MY DEVELOPMENTAL YEARS, I WOULD SAY THAT JUST GROWING UP IN GENERAL IN A RURAL AREA PRESENTS A LOT OF CHALLENGES, IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO JUST WALK DOWN THE STREET AND SEE SOMEONE YOUR OWN AGE OR WALK DOWN A STREET, REALLY.

IT DOES KIND OF JUST -- IT CREATES CHALLENGES.

YOU ARE ISOLATED, YOU DON'T GET NECESSARILY THE EXPOSURE TO OTHER NEW IDEAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S WHAT I SOMETIMES WONDER AS I SAID, GREW UP IN -- GROWING UP LIKE ONE OF THE LAST GENERATIONS TO NOT BE TABLE SEE IT I WONDER HOW THAT PLAYED IN TO THEN EARRING TABLE ALL OF A SUDDEN SEE THE WORLD OF NEW IDEAS AND READ, JUST ANYTHING UNDER THE SUN THAT I HAD AN INTEREST IN.

WHICH I FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING I HAVE DONE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, STILL DO TO THIS DAY.

I JUST KIND OF -- I READ AN ARTICLE AND THAT OPENS UP FIVE NEW QUESTIONS WHICH LEADS ME TO READ FIVE NEW THINGS OR TEN NEW THINGS.

JUST KIND OF GET LOST IN THAT.

>> MY DAUGHTER WHO IS 11, CLEARLY YOUNGER THAN EVERYBODY ON THIS PANEL, AND WE LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD.

BUT IT EITHER END OUR PAVED ROADS ARE FAIRLY FAST DRIVING PAVED ROADS SO THAT ISOLATION IN SOME WAYS TO VERY REAL.

RURAL AREAS, FOLKS USED TO HAVE TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT CHILDREN AND THERE WERE BIG FAMILIES ALL THE WAY ALONG, YOU HAD COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY.

I DON'T KNOW EACH OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT IN OUR FAMILY WE HAVE ONE CHILD, LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING ONE OR TWO CHILDREN.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS CHANGING THE DYNAMIC FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THAT ABILITY TO JUST GO DOWN THE STREET AND BE WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS OR A FORM OF ISOLATION THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT S. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT AND SOME OF THE PARTICULARLY RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE.

BUT EVEN HERE, SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ALL COLLEGE STUDENT NEIGHBORHOODS OR OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ALL SENIORS, ARE WE DOING GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF MIXED NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAVING PEERS OR MENTORS WITH ELDERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF YOU THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW WELL WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER AND LIVING TOGETHER?

>> DEFINITELY.

I GREW UP ON A DIRT ROAD AND I HAVE A SISTER, JUST THE TWO OF US.

THERE WAS OTHER KIDS ON MY ROAD BUT THEY WEREN'T PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO ME.

I'D GO VISIT MY COUSINS IN OTHER STATES THAT ARE PARTICULARLY WEIRD WHEN THEY GOT ON THE BUS THEY WOULD MEET WHOLE OTHER GROUP OF KIDS AND GET ON THE BUS TOGETHER THERE WAS DESIGNATED BUS STOP.

WHERE THE BUS CAME TO MY HOUSE I JUST GOT ON BY MYSELF.

BUT I THINK THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR LIKE ACTUAL HUMAN CONTACT BUT I THINK THE WHOLE SOCIAL MEDIAENING IS MAKING IT EASIER TO CLOSE THAT GAP.

BUT THEN THERE'S MENTORING WHICH HELPS US BRING BACK THAT HUMAN CONTACT, I THINK IT'S ALL SORT OF RELATIVE.

>> WE ACTUALLY ARE NEARING THE END OF THE PROGRAM ALREADY, MIGHT BE A SURPRISE, THIS GOES BY SO QUICKLY.

THE HOUR HAS BEEN FLYING BY.

WE'VE COVERED IMPORTANT ISSUES, BUT ALSO ONLY TOUCHED ON, SPIN WAYS, FEW.

BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF YOU AS I TRAVEL THE STATE AND THOSE AROUND THE STATE WHEN YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT, HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION.

BUT I ALSO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO REACH OUT TO ME, SEND ME MESSAGE THROUGH MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WEBSITE, LTGOV.GOV SO WE CAN FOSTER THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THE FUTURE I'D LIKE TO CLOSE BY INVITING EACH OF YOU, OUR PANELISTS, EACH OF YOU, TO SHARE A PIECE OF ADVICE FOR THOSE WANTING TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED.

AGAIN, HOW THEY MIGHT DO IT OR PLACE TO REACH OUT OR WHATEVER ADVICE YOU MIGHT HAVE.

GO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

>> SURE, I'M HAPPY TO START.

I GUESS MY PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD BE TO GET INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT SURE IF YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE IT OR NOT BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING TO SPARK A STORY FOR YOU AND GOING TO BE A NEW PASSION.

THAT THERE IS -- I'VE BEEN LUCKY IN THAT I'VE GOTTEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE AMERICORPS WHICH IS PART OF THAT, BUT SO MANY WAYS TO GET INVOLVED, IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO, I THINK EXPLORE ALL POSSIBILITIES BEFORE YOU NAIL YOURSELF DOWN TO ANY ONE OR TWO THINGS.

>> YEAH.

I THINK MY BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE THAT I'D GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO BE INVOLVED, NEW ACTIVISTS, IS DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN WHAT YOU THINK YOU DON'T KNOW.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT SOMETHING, ENOUGH TO WANT TO FIGHT FOR IT, ACT ON IT, THEN YOU SHOULD DO THAT.

AND YOU WILL LEARN IN THE PROCESS, I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I STILL STRUGGLE WITH.

IT TAKES AWHILE TO GET OVER THAT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACT.

>> I WAS GOING VERY MUCH THE SAME DIRECTION.

I THINK WHENEVER I TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT GETTING CIVICALLY ENGAGED OR WHAT I DO OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE I HEAR A LOT OF, I WOULD LOVE TO DO THIS.

BUT -- THEN SOMETHING ELSE FOLLOWS.

SO I GUESS WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO DO, WHATEVER FOLLOWS THAT WORD "BUT" JUST FORGET IT.

AND DO IT.

YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING TO FILL THAT BLANK RIGHT AFTER THAT WORD.

IF YOU CONTINUE TO SWAP OUT FOR LACK OF A BUTTER TERM, EXCUSES, YOU'LL NEVER GET TYPICALLY ENGAGED OOP THAT'S A REAL SHAME BECAUSE DEMOCRACY IS A PARTICIPATE PORE RESPORT AND TEAM SPORT W NEED TO GET INVOLVED IF WE WANT RESULTS THAT REFLECT US.

>> I DEFINITELY SAY, MORE SPES I HAVE YOU CANNILY TOWARDS STUDENTS THAT THE VOICE OF STUDENTS REALLY MATTERS AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE THIS MOTIVATION WITHIN THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE OR BECAUSE OF THEIR GRADE.

SO, I DEFINITELY SAY, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR VOICE -- FOR SOME REASON IF YOUR VOICE ISN'T HEARD DEMAND THAT.

THAT IS COMPLETELY POSSIBLE.

FIND A COMMUNITY, SOME SOME STRENGTH FROM POWER, DON'T BE AFRAID TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND STAPPED UP FOR YOURSELF AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> GREAT.

WE DID END UP WITH COUPLE OF EXTRA MINUTES WE HAVE VIDEO QUESTION THAT HAS COME IN.

WE'LL HAVE THAT ONE COME IN.

KALA HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU WE'LL CUT TO THAT VIDEO.

>> WORKING TO BAN PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER ACHIEVABLE THINGS WE DO TO TO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.

>> ANY THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK THAT REALLY EVERYBODY CAN FIND THEIR OWN SPECIFIC WAY TO DO THIS.

I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ENERGY, WE USE ENERGY EVERYWHER EVERYWHERE.

RIGHT NOW YOU'RE SITTING WATCHING US ON A TELEVISION THAT IS POWERED FROM A GRID THAT COMES FROM A LOT OF DIVERSE SOURCES.

AND YOU CAN EITHER -- YOU CAN LOOK HOW YOU USE ENERGY, YOU CAN LOOK TO USE LESS, YOU CAN LOOK AT WHERE IT'S COMING FROM AND SEEK OUT THOSE WHO ARE ON THE OTHER END OF THAT OUTLET AND DEMAND A CLEANER, MORE SUSTAINABLE, MORE LOCAL FORM OF ENERGY.

REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO AT THE END OF THE DAY NOT TAKING FACT THAT THE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN YOU TURN THE SWITCH FOR GRANTED.

LOT OF PEOPLE DISCONNECT WHY THAT HAPPENS.

WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY FINDS THEIR WAY, I KNOW PEOPLE WHO WORK ON DIVESTMENT OF -- FROM THINGS THAT ARE HAVING A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE CLIMATE.

PEOPLE WHO WORK ON ENERGY BOTH IN POLICY AND ALSO JUST INSTALLING IT.

I THINK THAT IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE USING ENERGY, YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING TO DO.

>> IT'S INTERESTING I WAS AT AN EVENT AT THE STATE HOUSE JUST THE OTHER DAY PUT ON BY SOME FARMERS AND FOOD ADVOCATES WHO WERE POINTING OUT THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE PUT OUT IN THE PLANET IS ACTUALLY FROM THE ACT OF FOOD PRODUCTION, I THINK FOR KAYLA ANOTHER THINGS IN TERMS OF CARBON FOOTPRINT WHAT SOME OUR DIET?

WE SORT OF COME TO THIS WORLD NOW WHERE EVERY TYPE OF FOOD IS AVAILABLE ANY TIME AT THE GROCERY STORE.

AND THAT'S A GREAT THING.

WE'RE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE.

MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY, BUT SOME OF THAT OPPORTUNITY COMES WITH CARBON FOOTPRINT COSTS.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS TO LEARN ABOUT.

I DON'T THINK ANY ONE OF US IS PERFECT IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVING, I KNOW I'M NOT.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ANY OF YOU WHEN IT COMES TO CARBON FOOTPRINT.

BUT I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO DO IS LOOK AT CHOICE WE'RE MAKING DAY-TO-DAY, SLOWLY ADJUSTING THOSE CHOICE.

SO FOOD, TRANSPORTATION CERTAINLY HOW WARM WE HEAT OUR HOMES.

FOLKS CAN WEAR LONG SLEEVE SHIRT OR SWEATER IN THE WINTER.

SOME FOLKS I DON'T THINK AS OFTEN IN VERMONT MAYBE SOUTH OF HERE SAY, I CAN JUST CRANK THE HEAT UP AND WEAR T-SHIRT IN THE WINTER.

THOSE ARE CHOICES, KAYLA THAT FAMILIES CAN MAKE AND INDIVIDUALS CAN MAKE.

TO DO OR NOT DO.

I WANT TO SORT OF WRAP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF, AGAIN, WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN DO OR SORT OF WHAT SOME OF THE CHANGES ARE.

WE SPOKE ABOUT A VOICE, DON'T ALWAYS FEEL THEY HAVE A CHOICE.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF E-MAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL PHONES, NOT ALL POLITICAL INTERACTIONS ARE FACE TO FACE.

I WOULD SAY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN CALL THEIR LEGISLATOR.

YOU CAN E-MAIL YOUR LEGISLATOR, THERE IS NOTHING OVER THE PHONE OR IN AN E-MAIL THAT REVEALS YOUR AGE.

FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT THINK WELL THEY'RE NOT A VOTER I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY, THEY DON'T KNOW THAT.

BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY MOST OF THE POLICY MAKERS I KNOW REALLY WELCOME HEARING FROM YOU, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE YET.

BECAUSE YOU WILL BE IN THE FUTURE, THE ISSUES THAT POLICY MAKERS ARE DISCUSSING ARE IN PART FROM THEIR HEART, THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR CHILDREN, THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

WHAT IMPACTS THE DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY ARE GOING TO HAVE ON EACH OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND SO HEARING FROM YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR JOB FUTURE, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT SOCIAL POLICY AND INTERACTION.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT CIVICS AND POLITICS.

TODAY WE'VE HAD EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MATTER TO YOU, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY DISPARAGING SOMETHING ELSE FOR HAVING A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT.

SOMETIMES IN POLITICS WE GET THAT QUITE 'BIT.

I WONDER IF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY MORE INTERESTED IN HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND LISTENING TO EACH OTHER AND SHARING WITH EACH OTHER, EVEN WHEN YOU DISAGREE AND NOT -- NOT AS ENTHRALLED WITH POLITICS WHERE IT'S I'M RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONG AND I'M GOING TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS AS OPPOSED TO, HOW CAN WE DISCUSS THESE ISSUES, FIND OUT WHAT OUR DIFFERENCE ARE, FIND OUT WHAT OUR COMMON GROUND IS AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO FIND THAT COMMON GROUND AND MAYBE THEN EXPRESS THAT.

MAYBE WE CAN DO THAT IN LAW MAKING AND IN SCHOOL BOARD POLICY MAKING AND IN OUR TOWN MEETINGS.

SO, REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING.

I WANT TO THANK FOLKS FOR WATCHING AND THANK OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING HERE.

VERA FOR YOUR QUESTION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING AND YOUR STORIES AND INSIGHTS ARE INSPIRATION, YOUR DEDICATION IN ENGAGING PEOPLE, SPEAKING THE TRUTH, FIGHTING FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN IS REALLY IMPORTANT.