Health  
BOL Meeting Minutes -  
Published Draft  
800 Michaelian Office Bldg.  
148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor  
White Plains, NY 10601  
Committee Chair: Jewel Williams Johnson  
WestchesterLegislatorsNY.gov  
Wednesday, June 10, 2026  
11:00 AM  
Committee Room  
CALL TO ORDER  
Please note: Meetings of the Board of Legislators and its committees are held at the  
Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor, White Plains, New York, 10601,  
and livestreamed via the WebEx video conferencing system. Legislators may participate in  
person or via Webex. Members of the public may attend meetings in person at any of its  
locations, or view the meeting and its video recording online on the Westchester County  
Legislature’s website: https://westchestercountyny.legistar.com/. This website also provides  
the links to documents to be discussed at a given meeting.  
Legislator Emiljana Ulaj will be participating remotely from 520 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, New  
York 10591  
With a quorum present, Chair Williams Johnson called the meeting to order at 11:11AM.  
GUESTS (Virtual) : Nikki Brown, The Life Doula, Founder, Sister Nicole Speaks; Will Hatcher  
(King Willonius), Founder, AI & The Culture; Dr. Andy Bell Program Director at Westchester  
Department of Community Mental Health.  
BOL: Legislator David Imamura (Virtual) , Althema Goodson,, and Warren Watson Jr,  
Legislator Williams Johnson and Legislator Barr  
Present:  
Absent:  
Remote:  
Legislator Pierce and Ulaj  
Legislator Imamura  
MINUTES APPROVAL  
I.  
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION  
The Impact of Social Media on Youth and Limits for Protection  
Health  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Published Draft  
June 10, 2026  
Guests:  
- Nikki Brown, The Life Doula, Founder, Sister Nicole Speaks  
- Mr. Will Hatcher (King Willonius) - Founder, AI & The Culture  
- Dr. Andy Bell Program Director at Westchester County Department of Community  
Mental Health  
Committee Chairwoman Jewel Williams Johnson opened the meeting with an important  
statement on the internet, artificial intelligence, and the growing influence of digital platforms  
on young people and families. She framed the discussion around the need to better  
understand both the opportunities and dangers presented by modern technology, particularly  
as it relates to youth development and community well-being. She then invited the guest  
speakers to introduce themselves before posing thought-provoking questions to guide the  
conversation. A paragraph-based minutes format is a standard and appropriate way to  
organize discussion by topic in formal committee records.  
The discussion began with youth digital safety and the broad impact of social media on how  
young people form identity, communicate, and experience the world around them. The  
conversation recognized that digital platforms can provide connection and access to  
information, while also exposing youth to cyberbullying, anxiety, harmful content, and  
unhealthy social comparison. Reference was made to the importance of legal protections,  
family awareness, and ongoing education to help children navigate online spaces more safely.  
Attention then turned to youth mental health and social media, with emphasis on the emotional  
effects of constant digital engagement. Concerns were raised about body image, self-esteem,  
stress, and the pressure created by algorithm-driven content and online visibility. The  
discussion underscored the value of regular, honest conversations between adults and youth  
so that technology use can be guided with both care and accountability.  
The meeting also explored how adults and youth often experience digital reality differently. For  
many young people, smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence are not viewed as  
new tools but as a normal part of daily life, which shapes communication, entertainment, and  
social interaction.  
This generational difference was described as an important reason for adults to listen more  
carefully, reflect on their own habits, and model balanced technology use. Conversation then  
shifted to phone use and the distractions devices create during meetings, learning  
environments, and group activities. It was noted that uninterrupted device use can reduce  
focus, weaken in-person engagement, and interfere with meaningful participation. The group  
discussed the importance of setting clear expectations and building community consensus  
around when and how phones should be used in shared spaces.  
The discussion on learning styles highlighted that people absorb and process information in  
different ways, and that technology can either support or disrupt that process depending on  
the setting. It was also acknowledged that families do not all have the same access to digital  
tools, training, or support, creating inequities in how technology is experienced and managed.  
Health  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Published Draft  
June 10, 2026  
This portion of the meeting reinforced the need for flexibility, awareness, and inclusive  
approaches when discussing digital expectations.  
A portion of the meeting focused on the “Disconnect to Reconnect” initiative, which  
encourages people to step away from devices and rebuild stronger personal connections  
through direct interaction and shared experiences. The conversation connected this idea to  
the need to disengage from harmful technology habits, especially when digital use becomes  
compulsive, emotionally damaging, or developmentally disruptive. Greater intentionality  
around screen time was described as an important step toward healthier relationships with  
technology.  
The final portion of the discussion addressed student privacy and broader concerns about  
data collection. Attention was given to how digital platforms gather, store, and use personal  
information, particularly information involving children and students. The meeting concluded  
with a call to rediscover joy outdoors and promote more offline recreation, physical activity,  
and community engagement as a healthy counterbalance to screen dependence.  
Action items included exploring the possibility of an algorithms workshop for parents and  
educators and planning a future meeting focused on understanding algorithms and managing  
them on personal devices. Sample minutes guidance commonly includes documenting  
discussion topics and future action items in separate paragraphs by subject, which aligns with  
this format.  
II.  
OTHER BUSINESS  
RECEIVE & FILE  
III.  
ADJOURNMENT  
This matter was adjourned at 12:27PM