"We wanted to harness ideas from Maui County's young people and remind them they always have a seat at the table when it comes to community building and recovery," says Maui County Council Chairwoman Alice Lee of the Imi Pono Challenge.
The National Association of Counties has awarded the Hawaiian council with a 2022 Achievement Award in Civic Engagement and Public Information for its youth-focused contest, in which middle and high school students were tasked with coming up with solutions to the "negative social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic," per a release.
The winners of the contest, which saw 175 entries from 15 schools across the county, were recognized and given the opportunity to connect with community mentors to bring their ideas to life, Lee says.
"We will continue to look at innovative ways to engage our youth and keep them connected to key issues," she adds.
The Imi Pono Challenge's next theme will be on the prevention of underage drinking and raising awareness of the dangerous appeal of juice-flavored alcoholic beverages, per Maui News.
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