My Day at the State House Speaking Out for Women's Rights
For the past several years, GLCPS has partnered with the YWCA to educate and empower our students to participate in Women’s Advocacy Day at the State House. On that day, our students use their public speaking skills to advocate for legislation that will improve the lives of women and girls in the Commonwealth.
GLCPS high school sophomore Sophia Merrey reflects and shares about the experience of her fellow students and herself during Women’s Advocacy Day 2025.
(New Bedford) - Recently, several classmates and I were given the opportunity to attend Women’s Advocacy Day at the Massachusetts State House with support from the YWCA. There, we met with legislative office staff to discuss important issues affecting women. The experience was both educational and inspiring for everyone involved.
As a 10th grader, as well as proud founding member of our school’s GSA Rainbow Royals, I had the chance to speak with staff members of our local legislative delegation about Bill H47 which addresses current health education in Massachusetts schools.
“We support the bill to have medically accurate and equitable health classes for all, however, the bill needs to be more specific,” I explained. I emphasize key points to refine the bill, such as specifically including LGBTQ topics in the curriculum, stating, “How can we guarantee ALL students a future if they’re not even seen in the lessons?”
I also touched on the parent opt-out option and what “age-appropriate lessons” should look like. “Politics shouldn’t play a role in the equal education kids deserve,” I noted. Lastly, I suggested there should be an outline of what students learn, ensuring consistency and fairness across districts. “If we want to prepare students for the real world, we must teach them the real world. And that world is diverse,” I concluded.
My classmate, Jarilis Garcia, spoke to our representatives’ office about menstrual products. She pointed out the stigma women face about their monthly menstrual cycle, stating that it is unacceptable in this day in age. “We need to stop gouging prices on menstrual products just to make a quick buck off of something that makes women a part of society,” she told them, adding that period products should be of high quality, free of toxins and accessible to all.
Another classmate, Emma Kochanek also traveled with us to our state capitol. “I really enjoyed the idea of the event and loved getting to visit the State House,” she said. “It would have been great to see more representatives or senators and hear their thoughts on the bills.”
Abigail Urbina Lopez was deeply affected by the experience. “Attending Women’s Advocacy Day was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had,” she said. “It left me with a strong desire to learn more about civics, and I hope to be able to attend again next year. In the future, I’d love to spend more time listening to the speakers. This experience really opened my eyes to what's happening in Massachusetts.”
“I had a wonderful time exploring the State House and listening to the Women’s Advocacy speeches, especially Sophia Merrey and Jarilis Garcia talking about the laws they chose to advocate for,” said yet another one of our classmates, Veronica Lacerte. “ I felt truly honored to have the chance to attend Women’s Advocacy Day. It made me feel valued!”
Zoe Ocasio Rodriguez said, “The event was very educational, and I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it with my classmates. They were all so inspiring. This event truly opened our eyes to the importance of advocacy and how our voices can make a difference in shaping policies that impact our communities. It was a memorable experience that motivated us to continue learning and advocating for women’s rights.”
