Senator Chuck Weaver of the 37th District is one of the two senators in Illinois to hold a Youth Advisory Council.
He borrowed the idea from 53rd District Senator Jason Barickman.
The program takes high school students and gives them two days to be immersed in the process of lawmaking.
Last year, in it’s first run Weaver’s program had 32 students involved but he’s hoping that this year he can raise that number to about 50.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to learn how government works and network with some of the sharpest kids in my district and just learn a lot of things from a practical stand point,” Weaver says.
Isaiah Harlan is a Galesburg High School senior who got asked by his principal if he wanted to be a part of the Youth Advisory Council.
Harlan says the principal didn’t really understand what the program was but knew the senior has a passionate interest in politics.
Part of the program is when students take on legislative roles such as a representative like Harlan was, or the governor, speaker or lobbyist in a real committee room in the capitol.
Harlan says Galesburg’s Evening News on WGIL they narrowly were able to pass their mock bill through committee.
“That was really interesting because we were trying frantically to get people to jump on board to our bill. That was a lot of fun,” Harlan says
If students are interested they should talk to their high school principal about the Youth Advisory Council.
The first of days in for the council is quickly approaching on November 2.
