It’s not every day you get the chance to speak face-to-face with elected officials, staffers, or government employees about pressing issues impacting you and your community, but on May 20, 2023, 15 participants in The Fund for Women and Girls’ youth advocacy program, GirlGov Chester County (now renamed CivicG+), did just that!

Participants gathered for an empowering opportunity to interview and network with nine elected officials and policymakers.

The Fund’s students asked invited guests about their career paths in government related fields, learned how to effectively engage the public sector to make change, and received advice about their own advocacy projects. This direct experience allowed these students to understand how they can pursue a career in public service or how they can advocate for community change as an engaged citizen.

The guests to this speed networking event included:

• Carolyn Comitta, Pennsylvania State Senator
• Katy Frey, Candidate for West Chester Area School Board, Region One
• Michelle Kichline, Chester County Commissioner
• Marian Moskowitz, Chester County Commissioner
• Katie Muth, Pennsylvania State Senator
• Katherine Paisley, Director of Policy, Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
• Emily Pisano, Assistant Borough Manager, Chadds Ford
• Sue Walker, Deputy Chief of Staff, District Director for Representative Chrissy Houlihan
• LeeAnn Wisdom, Downingtown Area School District, Board of Directors President 

See photos from the event. 

This speed networking event was the culmination of a year of hard work by The Fund’s youth advocates.  Since October 2022 these young women have been learning firsthand about civics, government, advocacy, policy, and leadership.  They have also been researching projects they identified as pressing needs in the community including:

• Reproductive justice 
• Environmental justice 
• Mental health justice 
• Anti-oppression 

For the 2023-2024 cohort next year, the program will be changing its name to CivicG+.  You can read more about this program and fill out an application to participate. Visit https://www.thefundcc.org/girls-programming/ for more program information and to fill out an application.