Metro East Sun

State Senator Erica Harriss hosted 44 high school students at Lewis and Clark Community College for her annual Fall Youth Advisory Council (YAC) meeting. The event aims to provide students with a firsthand experience of state government processes.

“It’s great to see new and returning students at my Youth Advisory Council each year,” said Senator Harriss. “This council gives our high school students a glimpse into the state government process, while also allowing them the opportunity to meet and network with other high school students from schools across the district.”

The day's agenda included meetings with Senator Harriss and presentations by Megan Tyler, Executive Director of Sacred Spaces of CARE, and Elizabeth Grant, Professor at LCCC and Edwardsville Alderwoman.

Granite City High School student Andrew Willaredt expressed his motivation: “I am inspired by leadership, and I want to lead in my study of engineering for the future. I have learned that leadership is about people, and you have to listen to the people and do what they want and communicate and cooperate together to accomplish things.”

After listening to guest speakers, participants were provided lunch by Meridian Health before spending the afternoon brainstorming legislative bill ideas for peer debate.

O’Fallon Township High School student Kalleigh Austin shared her thoughts: “I have learned that even though people have differences of opinions that you can still connect in some ways, and it can change your minds and other people’s minds. I am so privileged to have this experience to be picked out of almost 1,000 kids at my school. I am extremely excited about the spring, and I am so grateful to have this opportunity.”

The fall event is part one of two in Senator Harriss’ Youth Advisory Council. Participants will reconvene in spring at the State Capitol for a mock committee hearing to further engage with the legislative process in Springfield.

Marquette Catholic High School student Rodger Zawondniak anticipates visiting the State Capitol: “Just to see and meet the policymakers that make laws in my area. A lot of them I have seen their pictures or watched a video of them but never communicated with them directly, so I am really excited about that.”