April 2024

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.

Hello, and thanks for taking time with us via this April newsletter, especially if you’re having second, third or fourth thoughts about our future government leaders. This message may help you worry less about that. In fact, my hopes soared after spending two days with this year’s 1st Amendment–1st Vote student cohort from across New York, 153 girls strong and their 26 teacher mentors. Our 2023–24 Cohort was in Auburn, NY, Harriet Tubman’s chosen hometown, for our 5th Annual Leadership Action Summit (March 26 & 27).
The girls pictured here are motivated and actively preparing to lead our representative democracy, and that’s not an empty or trite statement… I’ve got proof. Eighty-three percent (83%) of them responded positively to this statement regarding the Summit’s effectiveness, “The Summit content helped me imagine myself in a government leadership position”. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’m pleased and proud to report this overwhelming measure of achievement of our mission and program success!

The Summit was a grand networking success, too. Students met with 25 current and former Women-in-Government at our now famous non-partisan Roundtable Chats, and, they made new friends from school districts across the state while working in small groups to craft a simulated campaign for local elected office. Each group prepared and presented a campaign slogan, poster, and stump speech delivered by their chosen “candidate”. Prior to casting individual ballots, the “electorate” heard from a field of 19 young women.

Rima Khan, Williamsville North High School
Erie County, New York

Then, after delivering a brief but powerful message of congratulations and encouragement to students, Ms Shakera Tems presented an official State Proclamation from NY Governor Kathy Hochul to 1st Amendment–1st Vote, Inc, the pathway to government leadership for teen girls. Ms Tems, Interim Director/NYS Office of Women’s Affairs for Governor Hochul, spoke with dozens of girls during the Roundtable Chats about her trajectory to a professional position in state government as a member of the Governor’s executive staff in Albany.

Not only are 1st A–1st V students burgeoning government leaders, they also are making a difference today as Change-Makers in their home schools. This past Fall semester, each participating high school group identified an action for change or innovation needed at their high school. With support from Teacher Mentors, the girls worked throughout the school year to implement their SCHOOL ACTION PLAN for NEEDED CHANGE.

Southern Cayuga HS 23-24 Cohort with Principal Luke Carnicelli and Teacher Mentor Elishia Hootland

One Cayuga County, NY high school group created “hermanas” at Southern Cayuga Jr/Sr HS, “a safe environment for the younger generation of girls to discuss hygiene, schoolwork, time management, and friend/relationship issues”. Their principal said of his students’ participation in 1st Amendment–1st Vote, “Students from my school were once again amazed at how much they learned from this experience and are so appreciative of the student and adult conversations and connections. All students are truly fortunate to have this authentic, educational event to further their learning and help them achieve a Seal of Civic Readiness designation on their NYS high school diplomas”.

Please help us move toward our VISION of GENDER PARITY in GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP and continue this important, non-partisan opportunity for teens who identify as girls…DONATE TODAY!

www.1stalstv.org/ways-to-donate

Melina Carnicelli
Board President & Founder

Ways to Donate

2024 Major Funders