Mission

To close the gender gap at all levels of government leadership. 1st Amendment-1st Vote, Inc. offers high school girls a non-partisan opportunity to engage in the democratic process, and to imagine themselves in elected office or professional government-related positions.

Atiya Haque
1st Amendment-1st Vote 2023-24 Cohort
Syracuse, NY

Hello with springtime greetings and a warm welcome to this brief online message.

Just over 24 years ago, on January 1, 2000, I was inaugurated as Auburn, New York’s 42nd mayor, the first woman in my city’s history to serve in this elected leadership capacity. Being the first woman to hold the office of mayor was an additional reason to celebrate the new millennium’s first Women’s History Month. But…to this day, I hold the unfortunate distinction as the only woman to have served as Mayor of Auburn. A dubious distinction after 2 1/2 decades! This distinction, however, led me and a small group of women and men to create the 1st Amendment–1st Vote pathway program to government leadership for teens who identify as girls.

At 1st A–1st V, we envision gender parity in elected office at all levels; an end to the gender gap which remains at 22%. (Source: Center for American Women and Politics, 2024). Please take two short minutes to view the videos in this newsletter touting the importance of 1st Amendment–1st Vote and women taking their rightful place at legislative tables,” as I often say.

If you are reading this far, I expect you agree that many women in leadership positions all over the US are making important strides for our country every day and should be highlighted 365 days a year, each year, not only in March. I look forward to a day when there’s no need to set aside the 31 days of this month to remind people that women are leaders in our society…it will be a given each day of every year!

Uplifting the status of girls and women 24/7 is what 1st Amendment–1st Vote set in motion five years ago; encouraging teen girls to imagine themselves as government leaders is our daily mission. This school year, we’re working with 154 students from 18 New York high schools at no cost to students and their families; we operate on the generous support from donors.

This month, I ask you to “March” to our website to donate in honor of a woman in your life who uplifted YOU!

Please make a donation: https://1stalstv.org/ways-to-donate.

Melina Carnicelli
Board President & Founder