Workshop Connects Students and Legislators on Civic Engagement

On Monday April 10th, The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and The Roosevelt Institute co-hosted a forum at the University of Illinois at Chicago to help students learn how to participate meaningfully in the political process. During the forum, state legislators sat down with students to answer questions and share their personal experiences. Their conversations covered a range of topics, including how legislators became involved with politics, their opinions on current issues facing Illinois, and how young people can become more civically engaged.

The eight state legislators in attendance were: State Senators Omar Aquino, Bill Cunningham, and Patricia Van Pelt, former State Senators Susan Garrett and John Millner, and State Representatives Mike Fortner, Arthur Turner, and Christian Mitchell.

Many of the legislators reflected on the fact that they ran for office as “underdogs,” often without the support of parties or large donors. They urged students not to let a lack of money or connections deter them from participating in the political process. As Senator Van Pelt noted, “if you can go door to door, then you can win an election in Chicago.” Senator Aquino echoed that idea in his conversations, emphasizing the importance of knowing the people in your community before running for office. Representative Turner offered a word of advice for students looking to engage their age group, saying, “on your way to the voting center, grab someone and take them with you.”

Legislators noted that engagement isn’t just important during a Presidential Election. Representative Mitchell noted that “local politics is the best place to get involved” to make real and lasting impact. Senator Millner also explained the importance of bipartisanship, noting that “everything is about collaboration” and reaching across the aisle.

As the event came to a close, students reflected on what they had learned. One student said she was inspired by how many legislators had won their seats through grassroots campaigning. Another said he was surprised, but pleased, to see 125 students attend the event. The discussion came to a close with one student saying that she had learned more about politics during the event than she had all semester. 

ICPR Would like to thank UIC for hosting the forum, the legislators for participating, and the Roosevelt Institute for partnering on the event. We plan to repeat this event in the future. If you are interested in hosting this type of event at your school, email us at sarah@ilcampaign.org.