Lisa Victoria, Staff reporter
March 24, 2024
Nashville —
On March 12, 2024, Daughters of Zion became the first Family First grantee to ever take program participants from Memphis to Nashville for a state Capitol visit with State Rep and Minority leader Karen Camper. As part of their career day activities, nearly two dozen students interested in politics and law learned how to draft a bill, argue a bill, and vote on a bill.
The students created a mock bill HR777 which debated whether youth ages 18-21 should be able to carry a gun. The students voted against youth being able to carry guns, citing that gun violence has claimed many lives in Memphis.
Nine-year-old Faith Johnson led an emotionally charged argument on the House Floor, passionately appealing to everyone to vote no so that more lives could be saved.
Faith’s mother, Senteria Johnson, was blown away when she saw the video of Faith’s argument and mentioned that she was stunned that Faith would even speak, initially thinking she would be shy, but was instead shocked by her eloquent appeal to stop gun violence.
Fourteen-year-old Lauren Michell, who plans to be a lawyer, said, “It was a very surreal experience. I gained a lot of knowledge on how the system works. It was an unforgettable day.”
State Rep Camper provided lunch and arranged for her staff to lead a full tour of the state capitol while Daughters of Zion and From the Street To Wall Street Foundation paid for the transportation costs.
When asked why Daughters of Zion planned this innovative trip, Youth Activities Director Aiyana Jones responded, “Daughters of Zion strongly believe in exposure, as research shows that success is all about exposure. We want to expose our program participants to as much as possible.
And we can see from the smiles on the faces of the nearly dozen kids we took how this trip has been a transformative experience for them.” Jones mentioned that the trip was so effective that Daughters of Zion plans to make it an annual event.
We are certain that one day Daughters of Zion will take future youth to witness Faith Johnson and Lauren Michell arguing bills at the State Capitol as adult state representatives and state senators themselves.
To sign up for the Daughters of Zion’s Tennessee Department of Human Services Family First program, which provides educational training, tutoring, and mentoring for low-income parents and their children, please call 901-260-9933.
