"I can think of no better cause then to encourage students to say 'Yes!' to civic engagement"

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - The fourth annual Youth Empowerment Summit (YES!) will feature Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley N. Weber as keynote speaker. Dr. Shirley N. Weber, was nominated to serve as California Secretary of State by Governor Gavin Newsom and sworn into office on January 29, 2021 as California’s first Black Secretary of State.

The summit will be held virtually on Saturday, April 24, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon) and is open to 9^th-12^th grade students in Yolo County. Students will have the ability to interface with local elected officials and discuss topics of importance to youth, win prizes and make presentations using Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

The purpose of YES! is to empower and encourage youth to say “YES!” to leadership roles and civic engagement in their local communities. “We hope to inspire future leaders and are thrilled to have the newly appointed Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley N. Weber as the keynote speaker,” said Jesse Salinas, the Yolo County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters. YES! supports High School Voter Education Weeks, April 19-30, 2021 as an opportunity to assist students on the path to a lifetime of civic engagement and voting.

"Democracy starts at the local level and can only exist when we empower our state's future leaders to get involved in our democratic processes early and regularly,” says California Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley N. Weber. “As I make my first public address in Yolo County as California's Secretary of State, I can think of no better cause then to encourage students to say 'Yes!' to civic engagement and be the voice for change they wish to see in Yolo County and all of California.”

In addition to the organizations involved in the Youth Empowerment Summit partnership, the event is made possible and supported by the local community by donations from organizations and private donations. If you would like to donate to this exciting event please visit: Donate to Yolo County and select Elections Outreach.

YES! is a collaboration between the Yolo County Election Office, City of Woodland Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board, Woodland & Davis League of Women Voters, Yolo County Office of Education, Early Academic Outreach Program at UC Davis, Yolo County Friday Night Live, Yolo County Library, Empower Yolo ASSETs, Woodland Community College, Woodland Community College Educations Talent Search, Rise, Inc., West Sacramento Home Run, the History Project at UC Davis & Esri.

For more information on the event and to register please visit: www.yolosaysyes.com. Connect with Yolo County ACE – Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Elections on Facebook: @YoloACE, Instagram: @YoloCoACE, and Twitter: @YoloCoACE to stay informed on the Youth Empowerment Summit and other outreach efforts.Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber - Keynote Speaker for the Fourth Annual Youth Empowerment Summit on April 24, 2021