ARTS Committee Report
Purpose of Committee: The Arts Committee was created to promote youth expression through the arts while aligning with the Youth Commission's yearly theme. The committee focused on celebrating leadership by organizing an art contest that encouraged participants to creatively interpret and represent leadership in their work.
Frequency of meetings held: There was usually 1 meeting per month, with an increased frequency closer towards the date of the Youth Leadership Summit. Over the period from October to April, about 8 meetings were held.
Events: Young Artist Contest with winner displayed during the 2025 Youth Leadership Summit
Committee Report from Commissioner Rayna Doshi
The Arts Committee organized and hosted a leadership-themed art contest open to local youth. We selected three winners across different categories, recognizing outstanding interpretations of leadership through visual art. The winning pieces were showcased at the Youth Commission Leadership Summit, where the artists were publicly acknowledged. The event showcased youth creativity, fostered community engagement, and emphasized the power of leadership through artistic expression.
Committee Report from Commissioner Chenya Kwon
Overall, this committee had moderate success with the new Youth Leadership Summit art contest. During the Summit, we were able to commemorate our three participant winners and displayed the winning artworks for viewing. All winners received their prizes and shared positive comments about the art contest with committee members.
Environmental Committee Report
Purpose of Committee: The Environmental Committee was created to encourage youths to join efforts to protect our environment.
Frequency of meetings held: 4 meetings this fiscal year.
Events: Coastal Cleanup on September 20, 2024 and the Youth Trash Cleanup on May 3, 2025.
Committee Report from Commissioner Rafan Ahmed:
This year, the Environmental Committee focused solely on organizing the Youth Trash Cleanup. Over the course of the year, we met a few times to plan and coordinate logistics, ATTACHMENT #2
FY 2024-25 YC Committee and Liaison Summary Reports
including selecting the location, gathering supplies, and promoting the event to recruit volunteers. The cleanup was held along Moorpark Road next to Thousand Oaks High School, where we picked up trash and raked leaves to support the City’s Public Works Department and help keep the area clean. The event was a success as approximately 15 people signed up to participate and the event not only improved the appearance of a busy street but also encouraged environmental awareness among youth in our community. As a member of the Environmental Committee, I was glad to help plan and participate in an initiative that brought people together in creating a cleaner Thousand Oaks.
Committee Report from Commissioner Alex Lee:
Through our meetings we were able to plan our own youth clean ups days at specific locations. We had two successful trash cleanup days especially in our youth empowered clean-up day during the month of May where we had a great number in turnout.
Conejo Valley Unified School District Student Advisory Committee – SDAC Liaison Report
Stated Mission of Agency: 1. Create a safe environment for student voice to accurately represent our sites to district administration; 2. Promote Community Awareness - A partnership between schools and community ; 3. Improve conditions at the school sites including: safe environment, effective communication, college and career readiness, mental wellness, equity, and clean schools ; 4 . Discuss and take action regarding issues/concerns with student body no matter how great or small ; 5. Provide effective means of communication for students to contact SDAC regarding various issues while learning from our peers and listening to what they have to offer.
Frequency of meetings attended: Last Monday of every month during the school year Liaison Report from Commissioner Mia Oscanoa
My time serving on SDAC was a truly special one, as I was a member of both SDAC and TOYC. I had the privilege to keep both of these organizations in cahoots with one another.
My highlight serving as the SDAC Liaison was hearing at every one of the meetings the future agenda items. I was able to hear what each SDAC member was passionate about and watch it be solidified as a topic of discussion for a future agenda item. Through these agenda items, subcommittees would be proposed. Such as campus safety, which would promote keeping school bathrooms clean and address important issues like the issuing of parking passes. Serving as the SDAC Liaison only kept me more alert at meetings, and I could not have enjoyed my time more doing it.
Liaison Report from Commissioner Brielle Levesque
As the alternate liaison for SDAC, I attended several meetings when the main liaison was unavailable. Although I did not attend every session, the ones I participated in were insightful and impactful. During these meetings, we explored topics that addresse d both current challenges and opportunities for improvement within the CVUSD district. For example, one entire meeting focused on cell phone policies and how excessive phone usage can hinder student learning. We discussed the existing policies in place at various schools, proposed new rules to help students manage their screen time, and explored strategies that could support more focused and effective learning environments.
To engage us more, we also participated in some hands-on activities such as making posters. The commission was divided into small groups, and each group was tasked with designing a poster that presented new ideas for managing cell phone usage in schools.
Through collaboration and discussion, each group developed thoughtful and cre ative solutions. Many of these suggestions were later implemented in multiple CVUSD schools, showing how student voices can lead to real change. In other meetings, we talked about equally important issues, including the role of AI in education, academic dishonesty , and
the expansion of dual enrollment programs. These discussions helped me better understand our education system and the importance of student input in shaping effective policies.
Teen Center Advisory Committee Liaison Report
Stated Mission of Agency: The Teen Center Advisory Committee is a group of selected youth who help plan, create, host, and volunteer for Teen Center related events.
Frequency of meetings attended: every second Wednesday of each month.
Laison Report from Commissioner Alex Lee:
This fiscal year, the Teen Center Advisory Committee managed to help with planning and facilitating teen center events such as the blackout part y, the New Year's Eve dance, battle of the bands and much more. We were able to obtain valuable insights for future programs and events we wanted to host or showcase within the Teen Center as well. For instance, last Saturday we hosted the first ever youth led flee market at the Teen Center having more than 15 vendors show up to sell their miscellaneous products. Another common theme for this year for the importance of youth outreach to spread information about the many programs that the Teen Center offers. Ultimatel y , it was a highly
productive year of meetings that enabled us to provide more activities and engageme nt for the youth.
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