YWCA SEMA Advocated At The Statehouse

Have you ever spoken to your state legislators? How about your senators? No? Well, here at the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts, we got to last Wednesday! Both employees and board members attended Advocacy Day in Boston at our local statehouse to speak to legislators, senators, and our governor about upcoming bills to vote on that we, as advocates for those who are voiceless, are passionate about.

Even cooler, students from the local charter school, Global Learning Charter Public School, were able to join us and advocate for themselves and what they were passionate about!

A breakdown of our day included:
A 10 am meet and greet with other groups and counties from all over Massachusetts, with a great breakfast provided at the Statehouse!

Amazing speeches given by various women of high esteem, and groups who advocate for women’s rights, such as the Athena Council, a group of young women from the MetroWest region that comprises young and aspiring advocates and activists.
They personally went to each group and reached out to us, giving stickers to us all!

Listening to our Governor Maura Healy speak to us.
The Governor mentioned a tradition that Massachusetts Governors do when elected to office; they hang up pictures of previously elected governors in the executor’s ceremonial office. After a group of students sent her a letter advocating for themselves and who they would like her to hang up, Governor Healy decided to hang an empty frame; to represent the people who have no voice. Looking at this frame reminds her, as she said, to think of those people, and make sure to honor them in the choices she makes in office.

Students breaking down into groups with the YW to speak about the bills of our choices.
In one specific group, 6 bright young minds worked together to advocate for bill #H544, senate counterpart #268. Called the Healthy Young Act bill, these teens advocated for safe sex education to receive more funding in public schools. The goal is to focus more on high quality health education that is inclusive for all, especially LGTB youth, who often do not learn about their own sexual experiences in an educational setting. These students referenced personal experience in school and at home, and how they would feel safer learning about sexual health in school, especially when some students do not have this type of conversation at all.

Students in this group spoke to advocates for legislator Mark C. Montigny and Representative Antonio Cabral. They pulled out not only what bill they wanted to push forward, but came with the facts and numbers to back themselves up! Students were so excited to talk about these bills with senators, and by the end of the day, readily agreed to come back next year and advocate for themselves again!
A group photo!
Lunch, and then we headed home for the day.

It was truly a day for the books; speaking out for those without voices, and for what we are passionate about here at the YW. Mass women; for all women.