Selected by the Cleveland American Legion Auxiliary Unit# 207, juniors Neenah Lassiter (left) and Maile Meissner (right) are among 200 young women from around Minnesota who will be attending the ALA Girls State program this week.
Held at Bethel University in St. Paul, ALA Girls State's goals are to develop leadership and pride as American citizens, to educate about government, to instill a greater understanding of Americanism and to stimulate a desire to maintain a democratic government processes.
The Cleveland ALA is sponsoring Lassiter and Meissner’s tuition.
Lassiter is active in Student Council, the concert band, Red Jazz Band, volleyball and the Cleveland Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She became familiar with Girls State through upperclassmen Vivian Hilfer and Sierra McCabe, who attended last year.
“They told me what it was about, and it sounded really interesting. I think it’s a great opportunity to learn how the government works, and that’s something important to know. I hope to learn lots of new things about our country that I maybe didn’t know before, and I’m excited to meet girls from all over the state.”
Meissner participates in the concert band, Red Jazz Band, volleyball and yearbook. She chose to apply for Girls State because she wants to understand how the government works beyond what she has learned in the classroom.
“I feel like to be a well-rounded person, you need to know about the systems that affect your life, and I realized I didn't know nearly as much as I wanted to.”
She plans to bring an open mind and lots of energy to the program.
“I'm genuinely excited to participate, and I think I'll push myself to step outside my comfort zone and take on leadership roles I wouldn't normally go for. What I hope to get out of it is a real, in-depth understanding of how the government works at every level and maybe figure out where I fit into all of it as a citizen. I want to leave feeling like I actually know what's going on and that I have the confidence to be involved in my community.”
About Girls State
The ALA Girls State program, first presented in the late 1930s, is one of the most respected experiential learning programs in the United States. It is a week of intensive study and learning through involvement. Participants will organize and participate in the various levels and branches of government. Every girl will hold a government office or will become a member of the House or Senate.
Each girl is a citizen of a city, a county, and the state as well as a member of a political party. The week begins with instruction in city government, electing city officials and organizing their city government. Next is the county, followed by the state level. At each level, the citizens learn the election process and then actually elect, organize and carry on the business of government. They participate in precinct caucuses through state conventions to learn the political process.
Highlights of the week include campaigning, elections, Inauguration of the ALA MN Girls State Governor and State Constitutional Officers, debating bills in legislative sessions held in the House and Senate Chambers, and conducting Mock Trials in the Judicial Center at the Minnesota State Capitol in St Paul.
This week is a good preview of college. For many, it will be their first exposure to dormitory living. Meals are served in the University cafeteria.
Attendees have both an opportunity and a responsibility. The opportunity is to participate in a program of government. The responsibility is to learn as much as they can about government and share their gained knowledge and experience with their school and their community when they return home.
There is also a Boys State program going on this week on the campus of St. John’s University in Collegeville, near St. Cloud, but Cleveland has not had any participants in it for over a decade.