by Beth Pelliciotti, LWVWA Board

Many League members join the League because of an earlier experience with government (LWVWA Internal Survey October 2022). It might have been Girls' or Boys' State, a political science course, or an internship. Whatever the experience, the interest in government started in school.

The Washington State Legislature offers this kind of government experience for students ages 14-16 via the two page programs– the WA House of Representatives Page Program and the WA Senate Page Program. As pages, students work for a week in Olympia during the legislative session; they see government up close and attend Page School every day to learn more about how government works. Per the Legislative Page Program FAQs, pages work on a variety of assignments, "making deliveries to offices, going on errands, assisting offices, presenting the colors at the opening of each day's session, and working in the House chambers." 

How can a local League get involved?  Bonnie Bless-Boenish from the Clallam League (LWVCLA) describes how her League partnered with their local Boys and Girls Club on earlier projects which led to the current partnership on the page program. 

"Last year about this time, the LWVCLA met with the Boys and Girls Club Director to talk about civics education and how we might partner with them. We talked about their needs/wants in the area of civics education. The club director talked about a student who was a page before the pandemic and what an excellent opportunity it was, and how the director hoped to get more students involved.

She asked for help researching the program for the 2023 Legislative Session. A LWVCLA League member, Sharon Maguire, offered to make calls and find the latest news concerning the page program being offered again after the pandemic.

She organized a "Page School" meeting with the club director and two main staff members. She also presented the information to the teen group and helped interested students learn about the application process.

This year the Boys and Girls Club hopes to send three students to be pages in Olympia during this legislative session. The Boys and Girls Club is planning to help students with the application process, chaperones, and funding. They want all applicants to go the same week– during spring break. The club has budgeted for the cost and plans to get an Airbnb for that week; they will have all students stay there, will provide transportation to the capitol each day, and will send a chaperone. The club will also get kids the clothes they need (black pants, shoes, etc.) and pay for their spending money/food costs during the day. The chaperone will provide the other meals at the Airbnb.

The LWVCLA role is still being determined, but it might include giving the pages some prep information before they go– answering questions, having Sharon Maguire share information about the layout of the buildings, etc., helping with shopping for clothes, etc."

• Educating the public how government works is part of the League mission to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy.
• Leagues are good at long-term planning.  Exploring a potential partnership, determining application deadlines, and securing page funding might take a year.  Consider applying for a LWVWA Civic Education Grant– see the In League October 2022 Civic Education Grants article for more information.
  
• The Boys and Girls Club is making the page program a priority. They seek to find and send students from families with economic challenges. The League is also committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. No student should be excluded from this government learning because of lack of financial support.

For more information on how to connect with your local Boys & Girls Clubs, contact them at:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington State Association
www.washingtonclubs.org
P.O. Box 1774
Olympia, WA 98507 (360) 550-8511
We welcome your feedback and questions. Please contact us at katya@washingtonclubs.org