Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/479293
SPRING 2015 | WEAnews 12 WEA member Deb White has taught science at Cody High School for 25 years, but it's an extracurricular club she been advising for over 16 years that she feels really affects her students. White advises the Teen Leadership Coalition, which, among many other activities, sponsors an African orphanage, mentors younger students, and takes part in the Cody Youth for Justice program, which is where the lobbying comes into play. Cody Youth for Justice is a student-led group that has created and successfully lobbied for the passage of numerous laws in the Wyoming legislature, including the anti-huffing bill and the open container bill. This year the group tackled three bills: White said, "It's real life learning. They figure out something that should be a law, do research, practice, get arguments lined out, and they talk to adults about it." The students also follow up with e-mails, letters, and thank-you notes with everyone they spoke with, as they track bills online. "They have skin in the game, they aren't just going to the Capitol and watching – these are bills they picked." The students just had a lunch meeting to celebrate that two out of three passed. "We didn't have hope for minimum wage – but the kids wanted to discuss it anyway," White said. Every year White brings 20-30 students, grades 9-12, to the Capitol to lobby for bills the students picked. "Youth for Justice makes kids passionate about politics – they're excited to vote and be involved," she said. It's important for these kids to see that once people vote, their job isn't done. People still need to follow up to make sure that the elected person is doing their job and representing their constituents. White said local legislators Senator Hank Coe and Representative Sam Krone have played a very active role in the group and have sponsored bills in which the students found interest, like Rep. Krone's HB150 this past session. White said the kids really get into this program, because they pick the bills they care about and that they're experts on, like texting and driving. They see that laws do make a difference, even if it takes looking at bills that may take multiple years. Cody Youth for Justice Lobbies and Wins! Next generation science standards-2 (HB23) – PASSED Arrests for violation of probation (HB150) - PASSED Minimum wage increase (HB24) – FAILED