SU Ag Center’s iLead Club Makes History During Youth Legislative Session

 Students from the St. Helena College & Career Academy participated in the 2015 Youth Legislature held at the Old State Capitol on April 22-23. Pictured from left on the front row are SU Ag Center Assistant Area Agent Nicolette Gordon, Kevelyn Brown, Chemeya Price, A'Laysia Lee and Youth Coordinator Toni Melton. Standing on the second row, beginning from the left are, Kody Murray, Brant Muse and J'Quailyn Floyd.

A'Laysia Lee stands behind the podium in the House Chamber. Lee was elected as a Youth Representative during the 2015 Youth Legislature held at the Old State Capitol.

Brent Muse learns how to cast his vote for Governor during the Youth Legislature.

Kevelyn Brown, who was elected as a Youth Senator, stands behind a podium in the Senate Chamber of the Old State Capitol.

Baton Rouge, La – Seven students in the Interactive Leaders Engaging & Advancing Democracy (iLEAD) Club at the St. Helena College & Career Academy participated in the Youth Legislature Session host by the Boys & Girls Club at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 22-23.

The student’s participation marked the first time that students from St. Helena Parish were chosen to participate in the session.

Youth Legislature, which has been in existence for more than 35 years, is a program that introduces middle school students to the legislative process through classroom instruction and participation in a two-day mock legislative session. Students elect a Governor and House and Senate officers. They also draft, sponsor, debate, pass and fail bills, as well as, lead and serve on legislative committees and speak publicly before an audience.

iLEAD is an in-school club developed by Nicolette Gordon, Assistant Area Agent at the Southern University Ag Center. The club is dedicated to training student government officers and members locally in St. Helena and Tangipahoa Parish schools.

“This experience allowed the iLEAD members to enhance their knowledge of not just passing a bill, but the entire political process,” said Gordon of the students. “Club members were also able to share resources and exchange ideas with students from other schools around Louisiana.  Much of what they learned can be applied as life-management skills as well as improving their quality of school life.”

Students participating in the Youth Legislature and their elected positions were:

Kevelyn Brown - Youth Senator

Kody Murray - Youth Representative

Brant Muse - Youth Representative

J'Quailyn Floyd - Youth Representative

Chemeya Price - Youth Representative

A'Laysia Lee - Youth Representative

The students were accompanied on the trip by Gordon and Youth Coordinator Toni Melton.

Click the following link to view a video of the 6th session of the Youth Legislature, https://youtu.be/42taVQKfajU.

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