Author: Rosie Lenenga

What Matters To You?

Whatever it is you can speak up about it! Whether it’s protecting the environment, supporting your community, or standing up for something you believe in, your voice is powerful. In this blog post, I want to share the testimony I wrote to support a bill about composting. Composting helps the planet by turning food scraps into healthy soil, and it’s something I believe is really important. I hope that reading this inspires you to speak up about issues you care about, because I know that speaking up about what you believe in can make a big difference.

Testimony in Support of HB 3018 – Food Waste Disposal and Composting Policies

Chair and Members of the Committee,

My name is Rosie Lanenga, and I am Oregon’s 2025 Kid Governor. I want to express my support for HB 3018, a bill aimed at reducing food waste and promoting composting.

As someone who cares deeply about the environment, I believe this bill will help us protect our planet and our future. Right now, too much food gets thrown away, even when it could still be useful. Food waste ends up in landfills where it produces harmful gases that contribute to climate change. This bill would make sure that large food businesses compost their waste instead of throwing it away, which is better for the Earth.

One of the things I really like about this bill is that it encourages businesses to separate food waste and send it to places that can turn it into compost. Composting is really important because it helps create healthy soil for growing more plants and food. If we can turn food scraps into something useful, we can help reduce pollution and make our communities greener.

I also like how the bill will teach businesses about composting. The Department of Environmental Quality will help them set up systems to properly separate food waste, which makes it easier for everyone. This is important because, if people know how to do something right, they are more likely to do it.

I understand that there are concerns about the capacity to handle food waste as well as its definition. I think it’s important to recognize that while composting isn’t as simple as just throwing food away, it’s still the right choice for our environment, and we can work together to find solutions.

I believe any challenges can be addressed through careful planning and investment. We can look for creative solutions! With cooperation between the state, composting companies, and communities, I believe we can make sure that this bill’s requirements will be manageable and successful.

In my school, we try to reduce food waste by recycling and composting. I’ve learned that even small changes, like composting food scraps instead of throwing them in the trash, can make a big difference. If more businesses and people follow these steps, we could have a huge positive impact on the environment.

I encourage you to help our state move toward a cleaner and greener future. I hope that the challenges raised by the opposition will be worked out, and I trust that together we can find solutions to make food waste composting easier for everyone.

Sincerely,
Rosie Lanenga, Oregon’s 2025 Kid Governor

Inauguration Ceremony

Hi everyone! My name is Saanvi and I am a cabinet member for the 2025 Oregon Kid Governor program. I’m very excited to write my first blog and share my experience of the inauguration ceremony.

I woke up at 6:30 am, and rushed downstairs for breakfast. My mom gave me 3 pancakes – 1 big, 1 medium and 1 very very small , which I enjoyed with lots of maple syrup. After breakfast, I got ready. I wore a black dress with a pink blazer and really bothersome tights. Once I got ready, we all hopped in the car, to go to Salem.

Once we reached Salem, we parked and walked 2 blocks to the capitol building. We had to go through the security and after that through these “gold” elevators to the second floor. Then we went to the Senate Chambers where the event was being held. We were a little early and since my mom loves taking pictures, she started taking pics which got annoying for me (lol!). The room was dark brown with a wooden interior and lots of chairs and a podium right in the front. The podium had the US and Oregon flag and a screen. There was a big picture in the background saying “Oregon admitted into the union Feb 14th 1859.”

As I was sitting, one of the officials came and asked me if I was the 2024 kid governor? I felt like I should have said “yes” but I said “no” and then introduced myself.

I met Nikki Fisher in person and she gave me an envelope from the Oregon Governor. The envelope had the “Commemorative reprint and transcription of the original 1857 Oregon state constitution.” It had a printed version on the left hand side and the original cursive copy on the right hand pages. The other highlight was a letter signed by the Governor. I am very excited to be able to have such rare souvenirs.

As the event started, we had Secretary of State,(SoS) Tobias Read welcoming us. After that, the 2024 kid governor gave the pledge of allegiance, then the former Chief Justice invited all the cabinet members to come upfront and go to the podium. There I shared my 3-point plan about my platform of “Reducing Homelessness and providing basic amenities to those unhoused” Then the former Chief Justice gave cabinet members the “Oath of Office” and at the end said, “I do.” Then the 2025 kid governor gave her speech followed by closing remarks from SoS. After the event, I took pics with SoS and the former Chief Justice.

There were Oregon shaped cookies so I decided to take and share them with my teacher and principal.

There was a local reporter who was invited to interview all the kids. We were not given any list of questions to prepare for the interview. She asked me about my platform and how it started, what I do and who helped me. At the end, she asked my mom to join for the interview and share how as a parent she felt about the program. I was very happy to have an opportunity to interview with my mom.

It was a long but very memorable and fun day and I can’t wait to start working on my 3-point plan and collaborate with all during my term!

Hi, everyone! I’m Rosie, Oregon’s new Kid Governor! I am happy to have the opportunity to serve you. I am excited for our year ahead together!

I thought I’d start off the year with posting about my inauguration. I remember being excited and nervous at the same time! I made a list the night before of all the things I needed to do to prepare for my big day. When the morning came, I was hasty to complete my list (eat breakfast, practice speech…) and was ready for the long, one hour drive to Salem.

Before my inauguration however, my family and I were invited to have a tour of the archives. The exhibitions and documents were all so wonderful and interesting to see.

After, my family and I headed to the capital for my swearing in. When we arrived in the Senate chamber, I was impressed at its beauty. From the deep brown of the wood to all of the flowers! Shortly after we took our seats, I was given a packet from the Governor. It contained Oregon Travel Magazines, a map of Oregon, her FAMILY CASSEROLE RECIPE, and much more!:) As the program proceeded I was able to hear from Secretary of State Tobias Reed, our outgoing Kid Governor Shah, and from my amazing cabinet members that I am lucky enough to get to work with this year!

Then, it was time to deliver my speech! I remember being so proud to be able to help lead our stunning state, and try to protect it from Climate Change. After the reception I had my first interview as the Oregon Kid Governor!

I was able to meet Senate President Rob Wagner, tour his office, and take some photos with him. I even held the gavel!!

That wraps up my inauguration. I am happy to serve you all in 2025!