When I was sworn into public office for the first time, I was 26 years old. I take pride in being one of the younger members the state legislature; I have the honor and privilege of not only representing the people of the 11th Assembly District, but being a voice for younger generations across our state. I strive to bring energy and enthusiasm to my job, and enjoy collaborating with colleagues across generational lines. It is my firm belief that diversity makes our society, and our government, stronger.
I have been very fortunate in my position to learn from and work with my peers as a member of the Young Elected Officials Network (YEO Network). This non-partisan group connects our newest generation of leaders and provides support for folks at every level of government as we advocate for our constituents and progressive values.
This weekend, I will have the opportunity to engage my young elected colleagues during two panel discussions at the YEO Network annual National Convening in Chicago. I look forward to leading policy discussions that will look at what government should be doing to improve our educational systems. My sessions will focus on the potential for community schools and college affordability policies to change the landscape and bring higher rates of attainment and achievement to communities across the country.
I have been a strong proponent of the community schools initiative for years. A model that has been implemented in a number of school districts across the country, I witnessed its successful implementation a year ago in Chicago and immediately knew it was something I wanted to bring home to Milwaukee. Community schools take a holistic approach to education, providing transformative opportunities, offering expanded services, and emphasizing family involvement throughout the educational experience.
For children, success in school is directly correlated to healthy homes and environments. Community schools seek to bridge the gap for students so that all children have access to the quality public education that they deserve. This year, I coauthored the Community Schools Act that will help guarantee that our children and future generations have the necessary supports and skills to succeed year-round – both inside and outside of the classroom. This legislation was written in response to historic, catastrophic cuts to our public schools and the irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars to fund private, unaccountable voucher schools. Instead, our plan celebrates public education by creating innovative pathways for students, parents, teachers, additional school staff, and members of the broader community to help make all the stakeholders in our neighborhoods succeed together.
While we know that equal educational opportunities for youth are vital to their progress and success in life, we must also ensure that debt does not keep them from being successful, contributing members of society in the long term.
As students in Wisconsin and across the country look to further their education, they face a growing student debt crisis. The average student in Wisconsin is saddled with almost $30,000 in debt by the time they graduate. This financial strain isn’t felt individually. The economic impact is widespread — these young people aren’t buying cars or homes, and they are waiting to get married and have children. They are struggling to make payments and defaulting on loans that they are unable to refinance. The irony of the situation is that we have always relied on future generations to continue to spur our economy. With over $1 trillion in student loan debt in this country, it is time to provide options for refinancing, and to focus on making college affordable again. We cannot continue to fail our students; we must make higher education and lower debt a priority so that young people can contribute to society, and our economy, without the stress of crippling debt.
Meeting with young elected officials from across the country inspires me to keep fighting for Wisconsin. There is so much potential in our state; but we must revitalize our educational system to ensure success for the generations to come. With the resolve of our legislators and support for our communities, we can address these problems and uphold our historic educational values.
