Fresh eyes for current issues

I recently attended the Homeless Forum put on by Spokane Public Radio. The meeting was informative, but what struck me the most was the enthusiasm of our youngest City Council member, Kate Burke. She has connected with individual homeless people to try to understand what got them into that situation and what their needs are.

I am delighted to see young folks take on issues that challenge us older folks. They bring fresh eyes to the scene and new insights about how to deal with difficult issues. On the national level Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is talking about a Green New Deal to address climate change and poverty.

Here in Spokane some parents of school-age children, seeing the dangers of global warming, started the local climate action group, 350 Spokane. Recently this group showed the movie “From Paris to Pittsburg.” The audience, including teenagers, saw the effects of climate change as well as work being done to confront it in Pittsburg and elsewhere.

Young people around the world are speaking up to national leaders. They are motivated to confront the issues that threaten a livable planet for themselves and all of us. Their energy gives me hope.

Pauline Druffel

Spokane