This virtual program for high school junior and senior girls is designed to elevate the next generation to pursue careers in public service and elected office. Over five two-hour sessions, students will engage in interactive and inspiring activities with exposure to women legislators, career options, and the inner workings of a political campaign. The program will culminate in a group competition to create a realistic campaign simulation.
Student Registration
- Student registration ended on Saturday, January 14, 2023.
- Parents must complete the Eligibility, Liability and Photo Release by Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Purpose
Gov Trek is designed to address the paucity of women in the halls of power to consider careers in public service and elected office. One of the priorities of AAUW’s core mission is to inform and empower girls in an effort to close the gender gap in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Program Format
Gov Trek is conducted online in five two-hour Saturday sessions, each with a different focus related to careers in politics, public service and the inner workings of a political campaign. Students learn from speakers and panelists, including current and former legislators, staffers, and consultants and then work in groups with an adult facilitator to complete activities such as writing speeches or designing political messages. The final project to create a campaign simulation is a team competition judged by VIP industry judges with awards in several categories.
Gov Trek is designed, delivered, and administered by AAUW California. Student recruitment is managed by the 90+ local AAUW branches across California.
Cost
The program is free for students to attend.
Deadline
- Interested students must complete and submit their online registration by Saturday, January 14, 2023.
- Parents must complete the Eligibility, Liability and Photo Release by Thursday, January 19, 2023.
- Breakout Room Facilitators should apply by December 31, 2022.
Speakers and panelists, including current and former legislators, staffers, and consultants, will cover various careers in public service and elective office. Student activities will include attending a public meeting held by a government agency or legislative body, presenting an elevator speech, and creating a campaign simulation. The program finale will include a fun campaign team competition including helpful feedback from judges and a chance to win prizes.
In this program, participants will:
- Engage in career exploration
- Gain access to local and state women legislators and leaders
- Run through a political campaign and understand the roles involved
- Make their college applications stand out
- Learn teamwork skills
- Meet peers from across California
- Sharpen public speaking skills
- Write speeches
- Design political fliers and ads
- Conduct audience analysis for voter outreach
- Receive a resource guide for relevant college and internship programs
- Receive a certificate of completion
Rewards will be provided for campaign competition winners.
| DATE | TOPIC |
| 01/28/23 | SESSION 1: Exploring Political Careers |
| 02/11/23 | SESSION 2: Women’s Leadership & Political Participation |
| 02/25/23 | SESSION 3: Ready, Set, *Live*! Campaigning 101 |
| 03/11/23 | SESSION 4: Campaign Simulation |
| 03/18/23 | SUBMISSIONS DUE: Political Campaign Package |
| 03/25/23 | SESSION 5: Gov Trek Finale and Campaign Competition. Live judging and awards |
| 04/22/23 | AAUW California Annual Event Competition winners announced and videos shared at AAUW California Annual Event |
The final Gov Trek project includes the creation and delivery of a political campaign package designed to make positive change in the community, state, or country. Participants will be assigned to teams of up to six members, each of whom may request what role they prefer to play in the political campaign:
- Candidate (1)
- Campaign manager (1)
- Field and volunteer manager (2)
- Communications director and speech writer (2)
Format: Campaign teams will work closely together through a realistic campaign simulation, delivering a six-minute video which includes:
- A candidate stump speech
- Voter outreach plan
- Political candidate flier and campaign ad
Time Limit: The entire video should be between five and one half and six and one half minutes long. Videos that do not fit within this timeframe will be disqualified from the competition. Videos will be uploaded to YouTube with the link submitted to [email protected] by midnight, Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Judging: Eight campaign teams will be selected to participate in the finale. Three VIP industry judges will evaluate and provide constructive feedback to the campaign teams competing in the final round. All finalists will receive The Empowered Citizens Guide: 10 Steps to Passing a Law that Matters to You. Additional awards will be provided in the following categories:
- Best Campaign Overall – Grand Prize Team – (6) Team members. Participants will be provided the opportunity to participate in a virtual internship.
- Voter Outreach Plan (VOP) – Most Persuasive – You Got Our Vote! – (2) Field & volunteer manager
- Candidate Flier & Campaign Ad – Best Digital Collateral (2) Communications director & speechwriter. Most compelling campaign artwork/digital communications
- Speech – Most Impact – (1) Candidate. Articulates well the who, why, what of the campaign and the vision for change in the community, state, and country
- Political Messaging – Most Effective – (1) Campaign manager. Clearly defined key messages, audiences, and strategies for reaching those audiences
- People’s Choice Award – (6) Team members. Favorite campaign decided by the audience (Zoom poll)
Deadline:
- Interested students must complete and submit their online registration by Saturday, January 14, 2023.
- Parents must complete the Eligibility, Liability and Photo Release by Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis and include two components:
To be completed by all students.
- Eligibility, Liability, and Photo Release
To be completed by the parent/guardian if the participant is under 18 years. The form will be sent after the registration is received. If the student is 18 or older, the student may complete the release in the registration packet and no parent signature is required.
Both components must be completed in order for the student to participate in the program.
Program Flier – English
Program Flier -Spanish
Press Release for branch use
Breakout Room Facilitator Application (Due December 31, 2022)
Right click on graphic and choose “Save image as” to download to your computer.
Gov Trek Program Introduction by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi
Post this video on your social media accounts. You must include the following text as part of the posting:
Exciting News! AAUW California 2023 Gov Trek’s inaugural session started with a video address from fellow Californian SPEAKER EMERITA NANCY PELOSI. We were privileged to have the first woman Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives greet us as we begin our journey together to explore careers in public office and elected positions. For more info: https://www.aauw-ca.org/introducing-gov-trek
Link to YouTube video: https://youtu.be/szcsrAj0Ir4
Download these graphics for use in your social media campaign.
Breakout Room Facilitator Application (Due December 31, 2022)
| Facilitator Name | January 28, 2023 Breakout Room # | February 11, 2023 Breakout Room # | February 25, 2023 Breakout Room # | March 11, 2023 Breakout Room # |
| Tracey Clark | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sharyn Siebert | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Regina Sneed | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Martha Uriarte | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Allene Zanger | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Maile Melkonian | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Erica Wilson | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Cassie MacDuff | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| Ogie Strogatz | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Kathleen Harper | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Wendy Levine | 10 | |||
| Sandra Makela | 11 | 11 | ||
| Nancy Chiu | 12 | 12 | ||
| JoAnn S Cobb | 13 | |||
| Tomasa Santoyo | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Barbara Ramsey | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Dorothy Burk | 3 | 13 | ||
| Sherry Ludwig | 10 | 10 | ||
| Charmen Goehring | 13 | 11 | ||
| Joanne M Webster | 11 | |||
| Nancy. Swanson | 12 | 2 | ||
| Amy Hom | 13 | 12 | ||
| Stephanie Young | 3 | 3 | ||
| Cheryl Flanagan | 10 |
Political Campaign Project Description
Gov Trek Campaign Simulation Competition
Gov Trek Facilitator Training Presentation – Session 1
Gov Trek Facilitator Training Presentation – Session 2
Social Media