Virtual Student Legislative Day

Another great student experience is coming your way! legislative day

The Michigan Association of Student Councils and Honor Societies (MASC/MAHS) is excited to announce the 2021 Virtual Student Legislative Day! 

Our Virtual Student Legislative Day will take student leaders interested in gaining a better understanding of the inner workings of Government on a full day (virtual) adventure at the State Capitol. This experience aligns with our mission statement and action goals in creating strong student and community leaders.
 

Date: Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Your home office, school building or couch (Virtual Event) 
Investment:
-$25 a person
-$350 for a group of 20 (Schools are allowed to bring additional participants at $25 per person and can register as many students as they wish)
Registration: Registration ends November 28th at 3:00 p.m.Virtual space may be limited and is on a first come, first serve basis. 

Agenda At-A-Glance
9:30-10:00 a.m. – Welcome and Overview
10:00-11:00 a.m. – Legislation 101
11:15-12:15 a.m. – Virtual Guided Tour of the Michigan State Capitol Building (and working lunch!)
12:15-12:30 p.m. – Break
12:30-2:30 p.m. – Legislative Panel  (State Senator, Policy Analyst and Grassroots Coordinator, Political Journalist & more!)

  • Legislator Presentation and Q and A 
  • Lobbyist Presentation and Q and A 
  • Legislative and Campaign Staff Panel and Q and A

2:00-2:30 p.m. – Sit in on a live House of Representatives Session! Moderated by MASSP’s Bob Kefgen for inside analysis and breakdown of action

Great Opportunity to Support your Course Work! 
This one-day workshop will contain a packed day, ensuring that students get the full experience of life in Lansing. The morning kicks off with a welcome and overview of legislative practice with MASSP’s lobbyist, Bob Kefgen (and maybe a few special guests!)  

Next, students will be taken on a virtual guided tour of the State Capitol building, reviewing historical features, rooms, items and critical Michigan History. 

After the tour, students will have the opportunity to meet with different government officials and staffers to gain a better understanding of their job duties and influence across our state. These meetings will include representation from staffers, lobbyists and legislators! 

We will end the day with students having the option of sitting in (virtually) on a live House of Representatives session. This jam-packed agenda serves to provide a well-rounded, exciting and informative day in Lansing.

 

 

register now

More information on our 2021 Speaker panel will be available soon! For reference, check out our 2020 speaker panel below!

Meet the Legislative Panel 2021

De'shondria

De’Shondria Bedenfield: MASB Policy Analyst and Grassroots Coordinator

De’Shondria Bedenfield is a native of Flint, Michigan and a graduate of Central Michigan University. A proud Chippewa! She has been with the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) for three years where she primarily focuses on grassroots organizing within the Government Relations Dept. De’Shondria is also an MSU Education Policy Fellowship Program Alum. Prior to this, she worked at the local level for Isabella County.
 

Geiss

State Senator Erika Geiss

Senator Geiss previously served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives, during which she served on the House Standing Committees of Commerce and Trade, Health Policy, Michigan Competitiveness (Democratic Vice Chair), Workforce and Talent Development and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
 

lawler

Emily Lawler: MLive Political Journalist 

I’m a Lansing-based reporter who packs a political punch.

I cut my chops in policy and political reporting at MIRS News, a snappy and fantastic daily online publication that hounds the Michigan capitol and all of its players day in and day out. In 2014 I moved to MLive, where a bigger audience and a lot of organizational support has allowed to pursue big stories and present them in interesting ways, including through video, databases and infographics.

There are a lot of important stories out there, and I’m itching to report the next one.
 

Brandy

Brandy Johnson, Ed Workforce Policy Advisor for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Brandy Johnson (MPP ’07), previously the executive director of Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), joined the Whitmer Administration as a policy advisor for postsecondary educational attainment and workforce development.

Johnson was a first-generation college student, who went on to teach third grade in a low-income neighborhood. After graduating from the Ford School, she served in the Governor’s office as a college access coordinator before joining MCAN as its founding executive director in 2010.
 

Kennedy

Sheryl Kennedy: Former Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives

 

Welcome to your Virtual Conference Experience!

The following video tutorial covers our digital conference platform, EventOwl. This brief overview showcases how to navigate the conference platform and some of what you can expect when registering for a digital conference. This platform allows our participants to view a full agenda, select sessions of interest, download handouts and resources and allows dedicated space for networking! Although we are not in the same room, we are still in this together!