The November election is quickly approaching and this election promises to be one of the most intense in recent years.  BHS Junior Brook Russell is determined to make sure that voters are not only registered, but educated about the issues affecting all of us.  Russell recently attended Inspire West Virginia’s Leadership Academy in order to initiate a chapter of the organization at Bridgeport High School.

 

Inspire West Virginia is part of a national movement to encourage civic involvement among high school students.  With representatives around the state, more than 12,000 students registered to vote in the last school year and Russell intends to ensure even more will register with the new chapter at BHS.

 

Hundreds of high school students in the Mountain State are dedicated to keeping our state healthy, strong and focused on the future.  The goal of Inspire West Virginia is to turn the energy and creativity of young people into action that will affect change.  As the most connected generation in history, teens today have opportunities to address issues and create sustainable solutions.  They are also the most recent group to win the right to vote, with many BHS students able to vote in their first election in November.

 

After spending three days at Camp Virgil Tate in Charleston in early August, Russell is now qualified to begin recruiting qualified students to register to vote. “It is our goal to have 100% of the senior class register to vote,” she said.  “If we achieve this, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant will present Bridgeport High School with the Jennings Randolph Award.”

 

Throughout the academy, Russell learned how to be an effective communicator and leader, how to network with other representatives from around the state and how to organize the program in order to succeed. 

 

“We talked a lot about politics and how to encourage voter registration without influencing how they should vote,” said Russell.  “Natalie Tennant, Mike Pushkin, Chris Walters and others all spoke to us about bill policies and the potential of our generation to create change.”

 

Russell will be working with other Inspire West Virginia representatives from Liberty High School to expand the outreach to all Harrison County schools. 

 

“I spoke with a few legislators about having a political night in Bridgeport in order to raise awareness about local issues and the importance of voting,” said Russell.  “I will begin assembling a team of teens to implement the core concepts of Inspire West Virginia as soon as school starts.  It is such a privilege  to vote and educate others and I am very honored to start the program at BHS.”