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Congressional leaders – both past and present – converged on �鶹ԭ�� on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 7 and 8, to participate in four panel discussions on the most pressing issues of our time. Titled the Congress to Campus Program, this event offered students a unique opportunity to engage in honest dialogue with members of Congress and civic leaders. This event was sponsored by the American Democracy Project at �鶹ԭ�� and by �鶹ԭ��’s Division of Student Success in partnership with the Rhode Island Office of the Secretary of State.

Five hundred high school students gathered in Sapinsley Hall for the first panel discussion focused on political power and activism. Former congressional leaders Val Demings (D-FL) and Dennis Ross (R-FL) were joined by U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner and Rhode Island Secretary of State Greg Amore. 

Panelists included student activists who have played pivotal roles in shaping social movements. They represented the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, Providence Student Union, Young Voices, RI Department of State Civic Liaisons Program, Youth in Action and Students Demand Change.

Arneson opened the session by asking Demings, Ross and Amore how young people have impacted their political leadership.

Demings, stated, “Legislation changed in Florida as a direct result of the voices and activism of the young people in Florida. After the Parkland High School shooting, our state passed red flag laws and raised the minimum age for people to possess an assault weapon. Young people, through March for Your Lives, made a definite difference. I want young people to know that we cannot make it as a nation without their voices, energy, intellect, strength and talent. We’ve never had one major moment in this country without young people leading the way.”

Ross agreed. He said, “When I was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, I engaged students and brought in people from YMCA clubs to go over bills to prepare them for mock legislative sessions…Because of my ability to work with people your age, I had a better staff. I had people who had a passion for the political process, and we as elected officials have an obligation to recognize that passion.”

Amore recalled, “In my first term as a legislator, Rhode Island was about to adopt a board of education high stakes testing mandate, which required a certain test score in math and English language arts to graduate. If students didn’t meet this arbitrary cut-off number, they couldn’t graduate…Ultimately, we passed a law to override the regulation so there wouldn’t be a mandate. That was directly due to the testimony of many students. They were articulate, brave and passionate.”

“The most successful advocacy comes from personal stories,” said Magaziner. “…. If you’re not a person who is directly impacted by whatever cause you’re advocating for, then you should not be at the forefront of that movement…The most impactful meetings I’ve had with constituents was when they were advocating for a cause they cared about. They were the ones who were leading from the heart with their personal stories.”

Grace Aleksiewicz of the RI Civic Leadership Program was among the student panelists who spoke about their entry point to activism: 

“In a ninth-grade civics class, I was in a We the People program, which isn’t offered in many schools anymore. It was not only a comprehensive opportunity to learn about the workings of government, but it also taught me to have passion for certain issues. The program culminated with students from each state going to Washington D.C. to have important discussions, answer questions and to think about political issues that involve them. It showed me that students my age can have a voice and represent the causes we care about whether it’s in D.C. or smaller places in our communities.”

The second session focused on the political divide in this country and how to rebuild political unity in America. Panelists Demings and Ross were joined by U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, former N.H. Rep. Arnie Arnesen and �鶹ԭ�� political science major Gianna Rose.

The third session focused on navigating politics in the digital age. Panelists Demings, Arnesen, URI Professor of Communication Studies Renee Hobbs and Boston Globe political reporter Ed Fitzpatrick discussed how understanding media bias and learning to verify information are essential skills for navigating today’s digital landscape.

The fourth and final session featured women political leaders who provided a first-hand look at the current climate for women in the political arena. Panelists consisted of political officeholders: Demings, R.I. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, R.I. Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz and Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera. Also on the panel were former R.I. Attorney General Arlene Violet and �鶹ԭ�� political science major Gianna Rose. They shared their insights on how to advance women in politics.

The American Democracy Project, under the direction of Professor of Communication Valerie Endress, is a valuable resource not only for �鶹ԭ�� students but for the entire state. It is the only program like it in the state and is considered one of the leading programs in the country for political and civic engagement. The goal of the American Democracy Project is to produce active, involved citizens in the community.