One of UWT’s core values is community engagement, so it is inspiring to see students put this value into practice.
Last December, the Tacoma City Council formed its once-a-decade Charter Review Committee. Among 52 applicants for 6 open positions, the Council selected UWT student Lok Yin Wu (Economics and Policy Analysis) to serve on the committee.
The city’s Charter Review Committee (CRC) reviews and proposes amendments to the city’s charter. In this critical process, the CRC examines features in the charter, such as the city’s governance structure, police accountability, the ability of citizens to vote directly on policies, and the term limits of Tacoma’s elected officials. The Committee’s task is to make recommendations to the City Council for changes to the charter that it would like the Council to put to a public vote.
The review process is a long one. This year it began in January and will end in May; it has required committee members to devote an average of ten hours of work per week. Of the 15 committee members, Lok is by far the youngest, reflecting an intentional effort on the part of City Council to involve young adults in the charter review process. Says Mayor Victoria Woodards:
“Children are not our future, but our present and we need to be engaging them now in the decisions that will impact them. There is no better example of this than the Charter Review Process and having youth participate in conversations that will shape the next decade of our community.”
Stephen Wamback, the chair of the review committee, agrees: “I’m appreciative that our City Council appointed Lok to represent the voice of youth. Active participation from younger generations is an important part of making sure we do this work right.”
Lok herself has found this opportunity to be “a breakthrough experience” for her. She especially appreciated how much she has learned: “It has deepened my understanding of the structure of the City of Tacoma and its progressive goals. I appreciate how passionate so many individuals are for making positive changes.”
In addition to Lok, UWT is well represented on this year’s Charter Review Committee. Prof. Katie Baird (PPPA) was also selected by the City, as were Andre Jimenez (Law & Policy, 2022), and Nicholas Carr (PP&E, 2012).