By Samantha Russell

WESTPORT — Empowering youth is something that has fascinated Staples High School seniors Taylor Brunetti and Annam Olasewere for several years. This summer, an opportunity to make that happen was granted to both students, who were appointed student co-chairs of the town’s Youth Commission.

“It does a lot with teaching younger kids about internet safety,” Olasewere said of the new leaders’ responsibilities, including giving lessons on digital footprint and screen safety. Olasewere and Brunetti, both Staples High School seniors, also mentor middle and high school students, assisting their transition from eighth to ninth grade and providing them with a community voice.

Brunetti joined the commission as a freshman. It was her fascination with iMentor Internet Safety, a program dedicated to online security for youth, which initially drew her interest in the group, she said. 

“My goal is kind of to teach kids about internet safety,” Brunetti said. “Everything is online now,” she said, and too many students have a lack of awareness about how to safely navigate the digital landscape. 

Olasewere was also interested in joining the commission after a hearing presentation about it while she was a middle school student.

“I think it’s really cool that this commission can give a voice to youth and actually address issues,” she said. Her twin, Ayaan, also a commission member, started the student-led “Voice for Change” program to help engage students in  school and community affairs.

The Westport Youth Commission is an official town board with up to 30 members, half of the members adults and the other half students, according to the WYC website. Meeting monthly, the group addresses youth needs and interests through a forum and with two subcommittees: Peer Education & Awareness and Town Improvements.

There are 15 voting members of the commission, but many non-voting members attend meetings to give their opinions on various issues. “It’s more of, like, a conversation,” Olasewere said. The reason for having two co-chairs is because “we have two voices and [two] opinions,” she said.

An aspect of WYC that Olasewere particularly enjoys is working to improve youth-police relations. The commission hosts Dodge-A-Cop and Corn-A-Cop, two events designed to break down barriers between youth and police by engaging in classic games. “So now I see some of the cops driving to school, and I can say ‘hi’ to them,” Olasewere said. 

Brunetti has committed herself to teaching internet safety above all else. She runs the Mini & Major Mentor program as well as an informal podcast answering youth questions. The nature of WYC, she said, is not to promote strict oversight or control, but to offer guidance in a friendly way.

“We definitely worked hard to [be] where we are,” she said.

Brunetti and Olasewere, both 17, are active in the community in other ways.

Brunetti, while admitting that WYC “takes up a lot of time,” has been a member of the lacrosse and cross country teams at Staples and a lifeguard at the Patterson Club in Fairfield.

Olasewere is a competitive swimmer and member of the Chelsea Piers Aquatic Team in Stamford, the USA National Junior Team and has competed for the USA at international meets in Australia and Israel. She hopes to continue swimming competitively in college.

Besides swimming, Olasewere tutors, referees parks and recreation soccer games, is co-president of the Staples Teen Awareness Club and a member of the Science, Math, Social Studies, Chinese and National Honor Societies. She also is a member of Link Crew at Staples, which supports eighth graders entering Staples as freshmen.

Acting as a youth mentor is certainly challenging, but not intimidating for either student, they both said. “Being co-chair, I am able to lead them,” Brunetti said. “It was so [exciting] to see everyone so interested.”

Olasewere added that since most Youth Commission members are enrolled at Staples, “we know them,” making it easier to coach them. The group, however, is open to all Westport teens, whether they attend a private school, are home-schooled or otherwise.

The experience as a WYC co-chair has had an impact on both seniors’ outlook on life and the future. 

Currently in the college selection process, Brunetti plans to remain active in community service with a goal of making positive change while at college. She also hopes to study in a field that fosters community growth while expanding her leadership skills.

Olasewere, who will be attending Stanford University next year, is considering a science-centered major, with an interest in pre-med. 

 “Although I’ve already finished the application process, looking back, I realize the WYC definitely played a part in helping me make this decision,” she said. “WYC taught me how to be independent, address issues around me no matter how big or small, give back to the community, and reach for the goals I want.”

Samantha Russell is a Westport Journal intern.