Last week, MAPL students and faculty coached and supported about 140 local high schoolers over the course of the semester, most of whom participated in role playing as legislators at the Minnesota State Capitol, as part of the Metro State University Model Legislature. Students from Camden High School, Harding Senior High School, South High School, Two Rivers High School, Minneapolis College, and the CLUES Youth in Action Program stepped into roles as legislators, lobbyists, and staff members, gaining firsthand insight into the legislative process. These individuals had the opportunity to sit in hearing rooms and on the House floor, debating and voting on bills of their own choosing, drawn from real bills from the most recent legislative session. They also got to hear from state leaders like House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon about the importance of stepping up and engaging in civic life.
Professor C. Scott Cooper, MAPL program director, says, "It's thrilling to see how these high school students can, over the course of just two days, go from being nervous and uncertain to giving impassioned speaches on the House floor. They care deeply about issues, and this program gives them the opportunity think about how they might advocate for those issues through the legislative process, in a way that no in-class experience ever could."
With guidance from Metro State MAPL graduate students and from a bipartisan group of actual legislators and legislative staff, this immersive experience showcased the power of civic engagement. Held in collaboration with the Minnesota Legislature, the program offered a unique opportunity for students to explore policymaking, advocate for their communities, and envision themselves as future leaders.
Congratulations to the whole Metro State team that worked on this project, the many MAPL students involved, and especially to the MAPL faculty team: Representative Emma Greenman, Representative Jess Hanson, and Professor Cooper!