Monday night’s Federal Way Youth Forum allowed students from each high school in the city to come together and address issues within the community.

The students had the opportunity to give their insights into topics such as the current political climate, the city’s current budget crisis and an increase of school shootings in the last few years.

All of the students agreed how necessary events like these are, because they – just like adults in the community – have opinions that deserve to be expressed.

“I believe that we are the generation that can be the change and make a difference in our lives,” Simone Lotu from Todd Beamer High School said.

The forum was taped by local media company Rugged Genius, and Federal Way City Councilman Jesse Johnson, one of the event’s organizers, said it would be sent to each of the council members – himself included – to bring awareness to the students’ opinions on local issues.

Johnson was pleased with the forum’s success and is working to create similar events in the future.

“I will be working with some organizations to plan voter registration events in the schools for next year,” Johnson said.

He is also planning block parties and other events to provide resources, such as financial education, to students.

The event was put on by Johnson and Dennis Lamont Styles, one of the founders of Rugged Genius, after a recent barbershop talk Johnson hosted. Johnson said he’s been wanting to host a forum like this since he was in high school.

Johnson invited several local and state leaders to the event, including Deputy Mayor Susan Honda, who was in attendance.

However, there weren’t many other leaders at the event, which was frustrating to some students.

“We promoted this on Facebook. … The main people that should be here are not here. Yes, we have representatives, but the people that we’re speaking to are not here,” Marquis Hale of Decatur High School said.

Chef Marquee Taylor, owner of Keyz to the Kitchen Catering, working with the students of the Federal Way HYPE Program served up food at a youth forum. Courtesy Jesse Johnson