Inaugural Youth Legislative Day Gathers Nearly 200 High School Students at Arizona State Capitol, Push for More Opportunities to Learn and Participate in Legislative Process
Nearly 200 students from various Phoenix-area high schools descended on the Arizona State Capitol, met with state legislators and officials
PHOENIX, AZ – On Tuesday, April 4th, nearly 200 high school students from different Phoenix-area schools participated in the inaugural Youth Legislative Day at the Arizona State Capitol during the legislative session.
“Young people are Arizona’s future but they are also Arizona’s present,” said Cristian Avila, Arizona State Director for Somos Votantes. “It is critical that young people are provided with more opportunities and more tools to participate, engage and see themselves in our political process. And it starts with Youth Legislative Day. Thank you to all of our participating high schools, our partners, state legislators and the Governor’s office for welcoming our youth leaders.”
During Youth Legislative Day, students had the opportunity to tour their state capitol, observe a state senate and house floor session, meet with their representatives and experience first-hand our democratic process.
“Youth Legislative Day is a reflection of our working democracy in action,” said Cyndi Tercero, Family and Community Engagement Manager with the Phoenix Union High School District. “We want to expose our students to not only the knowledge of knowing how our government works but also to being part of the process so they understand the power of their voice. Right now a 16 year-old is going to vote in the 2024 election, we want to prepare them now so that they can become informed voters and active members of their community.”
Youth Legislative Day brought together students from Alhambra High School, South Mountain High School, Cesar Chavez High School, Carl Hayden High School, Maryvale High School, West Point High School and Agua Fria High School.
“We are the next generations of leaders here in Arizona,” said Brian Ortiz, a senior at Alhambra High School who participated in Youth Legislative Day. “I participated in Youth Legislative Day because I will be voting for the first time next year and I want to not only inform myself about how our government works but I want to learn how I can be a voice for my family and my community. I’m ready!”
Youth Legislative Day is part of Somos Lideres, a program of Somos Votantes aimed at empowering youth leaders to become leading voices in their schools and communities by providing young people with more opportunities to participate and engage with the legislative process.
Somos Votantes is an organization aimed at empowering everyday Arizonans, including young people, with the tools and information they need to fully participate in our democracy. Somos works year-round to ensure that all working people have the opportunities they need to build a good life and to keep Arizona growing.
Interviews can be given in both English and Spanish, as requested.
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