The word ‘engagement’ is right there in the title of Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS). Students who participate in YESS contribute to their local watersheds, forests and marine
ecosystems through three to six weeks of project work, guided by industry professionals. In March, students from four YESS programs took that engagement to a new level, visiting the Washington State Capitol and meeting with legislators from their respective districts.
“The visit provided an opportunity to highlight a transformative program that offers students paid summer experiences while earning high school credit,” Vargas says.
YESS participants and teachers from the Onalaska, Toppenish, Tumwater and Yakima districts joined PEI executive director Kathryn Kurtz and Associate Director of Green Jobs Heather Spalding for a tour of the Capitol building. The group observed the Senate voting on House bills before splitting up to introduce themselves to their local legislators.
“This experience inspired students to use their voices with confidence—speaking professionally and academically to advocate for the issues that matter most to them and our community.”
— Teacher Robert Vargas, Toppenish and Yakama Nation Tribal School
Onalaska High School students and teacher Kevin Hoffman met 20th Legislative District state Reps. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, as well as state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia. YV-TECH Skills Center teachers Robin Driver (Yakima School District) and Robert Vargas (Toppenish and Yakama Nation Tribal School) accompanied their students to see Senator Nikki Torres and Rep. Jeremie Dufault, while Tumwater CTE teachers John Glenn and Aimee Opincarne’s students shared the YESS program with Rep. Lisa Parshley and Rep. Beth Doglio.
“Lawmakers showed strong interest—especially in hearing directly from students about their experiences,” says Vargas. “This experience inspired students to use their voices with confidence—speaking professionally and academically to advocate for the issues that matter most to them and our community.”
Thank you to the teachers and students for making the effort and to the legislators who took the time to meet with us!
