Tamia Fowlkes Goes to Washington

8/18/2017

Tamia Fowlkes, DSHA '18

Stay strong, stay determined, and hold your sisters up.

It is no coincidence that the most influential and spectacular moments in my life have been in a community of confident and empowered young women. At Badger Girls State, Girls Nation, and especially at DSHA I have found myself encompassed by an indescribable community that promotes girl power and love between friends and strangers. The undeniable presence of this empowering love and support is what led me and 99 young women from across the country to Washington D.C. for Girls Nation.

Badger Girls State is a government based leadership program for high school juniors, focused on teaching young women how to engage in their state government and establish an “action-based understanding of the governmental process.” At Girls State, young women are given the opportunity to run and campaign for state positions such as Governor, Mayor, Supreme Court Justice, etc., in a way that mimics our state government in Wisconsin. Interested young women can then interview to represent Wisconsin at Girls Nation, which takes place in Washington D.C. in July.

Mr. Dawson’s announcement of Badger Girls State applications being released sparked my interest immediately; to say that I was intrigued would be an understatement. As he walked through the aisles of our classroom passing out applications, my mind reeled. I was overwhelmed with the ideas that I could contribute in this setting and the voice that I could offer, which was representative and aware of varying issues that needed to be addressed in our government. I was thrilled, but nervous.

“Democracy dies in darkness,” the slogan of the Washington Post, is the quote that put my approach to my junior year in perspective. As a young woman in America, it was essential for me to ensure that I had a voice and made it heard in any way that I could. Equality, representation, and voice were priorities for me in every situation. My love for politics and government was undying, but this love quickly grew into a steadfast aspiration to be an informed, educated citizen of the United States of America. So how could I not take this opportunity to learn the ins and outs of my local government, if in the future I want to promote a form of nationwide or global change?

On June 18, 2017, more than 700 girls from around the state made their way to the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh for a week of learning, growth, and new friends. In five days the young women who surrounded me at Girls State would provide one of my greatest sources of inspiration, and it was truly a transformative experience. When it came time to apply for Girls Nation, however, I had my doubts.

“What if you get picked and it’s the best part of your summer?” my mother asked me as we talked on the phone weighing the pros and cons of applying to Girls Nation. Girls Nation, a more advanced and selective version of Girls State, is a program in which two girls from every state in the country are selected to participate in a mock national government as a member of the United States Senate. Along with being able to run for positions such as President, President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, and Keynote Speaker at a party convention, the girls who attended Girls Nation would have the opportunity to meet their state senators, a holocaust survivor, and the President of the United States. The decision was obvious, why wouldn't I apply? However, the real question stood: why would I be chosen?

My Girls Nation experience was too good to be true. The friends that I made on the journey and the experiences that I had are irreplaceable. It is indescribable how amazing it feels to be able to make my voice heard on a national level, whether in a room with 17 and 18 year old girls (the future leaders of America) or with my own state senators. Sitting down at a table in Senator Ron Johnson’s office discussing the healthcare bill and job development in Milwaukee was definitely not something that I thought would be on my agenda. Watching, even if just for a moment, Tammy Baldwin review a bill in Senate committee was riveting. Voicing my opinions, my perspective, and sharing stories of my own and of people that I had encountered throughout my life — whether it be on during a service project or throughout my community — was the first step to making my change. I got to be in “The Room Where It Happens,” and I promised myself that it wouldn't be the last time.

I am so thankful for the courage and confidence that I gained at Girls Nation, and for my realization that the moments in which where my challenges seemed insurmountable, courage, optimism, and spontaneity pushed me out of my comfort zone and into a new world of opportunity. Similar to my experiences in my household and at DSHA, surrounded by spectacular women, I had the confidence to push myself further than I anticipated and people motivating me to “just do it,” because these were once in a lifetime opportunities. I also found myself inspired by two DSHA Alumnae, Lauren Maddox, DSHA ’82, and Joyce Meyer, DSHA, ’89, who founded the Public Policy Scholarship that I received in May and proved that our country runs on the hard work and dedication of women who are unafraid to contribute to the bigger picture. Motivated and willing to face challenges that were unimaginable before I entered high school, was how I left Washington, D.C. on July 29th.

Though there are far too many who feel unrepresented or unsure of the future, these women who surrounded me at Girls Nation proved that the prosperity and security of our country will be safe in the hands of this dedicated, powerful generation. Despite the obstacles that we may face in our lives, young women with the courage to be loud and lead without fear of judgement have the power to encourage effective, representative change. As an activist, a leader, and an informed, empowered young woman I intend to continue promoting this change at DSHA and throughout my life. By listening to the stories of the people around me, serving my local community, and being an encouraging teammate, classmate, and friend; I hope to contribute to this revolution during my senior year.

One of my favorite quotes is “Feminism is not about the women who break the glass ceiling, but instead about the women who stand when the ground is literally shaking beneath them” - Angela Davis. I never want to forget this. My experiences at DSHA and my incredible Girls Nation experience have taught me that influence, voice, power, and change can easily come as a result of inclusivity, understanding, and communication between people of all racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds. I have no doubt that my Girls Nation sisters will all encourage acceptance and inclusivity in the nation that we will have the opportunity to build, and I am so grateful and blessed to have shared these transformative, beautiful memories with these incredible and empowered women.

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- My fellow Wisconsin Senator (Grace Boyle) and I pose for pictures in front of the 4-H Center.
- It was all big smiles on a beautiful day touring the monuments.
- Highlight of my trip! Meeting Representative and Civil Rights Activist John Lewis.
- One of the coolest parts of my trip was touring the Speaker of the House's Office and taking some pictures on his balcony.
- Girls Nation Senators take a picture with President Trump.
- Wisconsiana! Grace and I formed the closest bond with our fellow senators from Indiana. This friendship will definitely last a lifetime.