I served as an election judge on Nov. 5. The other 4 judges at the polling place had been doing this work for decades. One man said it was his 50th year.

This month our Y is sending 93 teens to Jefferson City to Missouri Youth & Government. These teens have studied our judicial and legislative systems all semester. I am impressed with their bill proposals for healthcare, the environment and public safety. However, currently in the US only 1 out of every 3 high school seniors is proficient in civics.

Our Y is working with St. Louis University Law School to offer a semester-long program about Citizenship and the Constitution to high schools. Please join me in funding this program to prepare a new generation to serve as election judges, voters, candidates, jury members and active citizens.