Democracy Day - Girl Scout Style

October 21, 2024

Maile N. is a Media Corps Girl Scout who celebrated Democracy Day with her Girl Scout sisters in Abilene. She wrote about the experience in the essay below.

I do believe that every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge regardless of their background or life experience. -Sonia Sotomayor

Have you ever thought about those who serve your community and maybe want to grow up to do that one day? On Monday, October 14, 2024, people in America celebrated Indigenous People’s Day. This day celebrates and honors Indigenous American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. These people helped culminate what America is today – diverse. This diversity has also led to the culmination of cultures, freedoms, rights, jobs, voting, etc. One of those many rights among the diverse cultures of Americans include voting and electing official to lead our city and county governments.

Girl Scouts in the Abilene, Texas, area were able to learn about their city and county governments during their Democracy Day event. They visited City Hall, learned about the Mayor and City Council elections, what happens during a City Council meeting, and met Abilene Mayor, Weldon Hurt. Then, they went over to the Taylor County Law Enforcement Center and learned what Girl Scout Alum and current Taylor County Justice of the Peace, Shawna Joiner, does for the community. They also had a visit with Trooper Morrow with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The Girl Scouts asked many questions to each leader. They found out the City’s Mayor is elected on three-year terms and the County’s Justice of the Peace is elected on four-year terms. They learned what a City Council meeting is and how to get on the agenda and their issue heard by the Council. They also learned what Miranda Rights were and what each line actually meant. Who knows one or more of these girls may end up being a Judge, the Mayor of your city, or even the President of the United States one day.