Students, parents, teachers, politicians and interested community members gathered in early May for a spirited discussion following the screening of the documentary Two Million Minutes: A Global Examination.

The panel discussion was aired in its entirety on KIOS 91.5 FM, on July 20, 2009. Download Panel Discussion in MP3 format.   

The Youth Leadership Omaha (YLO) Ambassadors hosted the event at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater. The Two Million Minutes documentary follows students and their families from the U.S., China and India as they make their way through high school and plan their futures. Attendees viewed the film and then participated in a panel discussion to address important concerns the Omaha community faces today. 

Guest panelists included: Dr. Roger Breed, Nebraska Commissioner of Education; Amor Habbab, recent graduate of Marian High School; Simon Rhode, social studies teacher at Millard North High School; and Harris Payne, social studies supervisor at Omaha Public Schools.

Caitlyn Cruz, a graduate of YLO Class 15, facilitated the panel discussion, addressing topics such as “brain drain” in Nebraska, incorporating more technologically progressive learning methods in our schools, lengthening the academic year, and how to shift student focus and celebration from sports to academics.  

The film infers that U.S. students are quickly falling behind and will soon lose their competitive edge due to laziness and a disinterest in high academic achievement. Panelists and audience members argued that this is not true, noting that American students live more balanced lives and place importance on creativity, innovation and personal satisfaction when choosing a career. 

According to one of the panelists, countries such as China and India are now trying to figure out how they can “teach” their students similar concepts of ingenuity, as they recognize that memorization of facts and formulas alone is not adequate to retain a competitive edge in today's global market.

About Youth Leadership Omaha: The YLO program is co-sponsored by the AIM Institute and Creighton University. Now in its 16th year, this popular interactive leadership development program offers high school sophomores the opportunity to explore the issues that shape the greater Omaha community. Students who graduate from YLO may choose to continue their participation by becoming YLO Ambassadors during their junior and senior years. YLO Ambassadors coordinate and facilitate events such as Two Million Minutes. More