Youth Activities
Youth Activities
Youth Civic Education | 2026 Studnts Inside Albany Conference |
Youth Civic Education
We're happy to report that the national League of Women Voters Education fund has awarded us $750 in funding for our Youth Civic Education.
Our League is planning to shift our in-school outreach focus from registering voters to more general civic education. Right now, among potential voters, 18-24 year olds are least likely to vote. And soon, half of the voting age population will be Gen Z—millennials. If you're excited about the prospect of reaching out to the next generation of voters, contact Joan at lwvschenectady [at] gmail.com
If you'd like to prepare yourself, the national team has produced a new Youth Civic Education Toolkit to explore.
You are also welcome to join two Zooms for Leagues that have received these grants. If you register and can't attend, you will receive a recording and resources following the call.
Use the following links to register for the initial trainings:
- August 4th Kickoff - 6 pm ET: Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Civic Education Grant Kickoff. After registering, you wi…
August 10th Q&A - 6 pm ET: Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Civic Education Grant Kickoff Q&A. After registering, yo…
2026 Students Inside Conference
The 2026 Students Inside Albany Conference, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, brought 59 high schoolers from across the state to the Albany from May 17 - 2020, 2026. This year's event successfully equipped students with the tools to participate in representative government and value their civic voice.
As a chaperone, I watched our students from Schenectady (Ethan Brougham and Hema Singh) transform into active, informed citizens ready to engage with representative government. It was incredibly rewarding to watch as they immerse themselves in the New York State's legislative process.
You can find a recap of the workshops, panels, and activities that made this year's conference so impactful here
Highlights & Memorable Moments
- Shadowing Success: Both Ethan and Hema had the incredible opportunity to shadow their Assembly Members (Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara) on the chamber floor, gaining a firsthand look at how bills are debated. They also had the opportunity to spend time with their State Senator, James Tedisco, who presented them with a certificate.
- Inspiring Future Goals: Several students raised their hands to indicate that they are now seriously considering a future career in public service.
- Taking Action: The absolute highlight was watching several students proudly fill out their voter registration form at the end of the conference.
Maxine Brisport
