Needham High School Civics Engagement Projects

The League of Women Voters of Needham is working with the Needham High School Social Studies Department to support students as they complete the required eleventh grade student civics projects. The civics projects became a formalized portion of the curriculum through enactment of S2631, An Act to Promote and Enhance Civic Engagement. Students will select a topic that is important to them and develop an advocacy plan of action on a real-world problem at the local or state level.

Looking for an Advocacy Issue?

Advocacy plans can be for state or local issues. The League of Women Voters of Needham has assembled a list of bills in the MA Legislature this session (first tab). In the second tab this is a list of local issues with links to further information. Students may advocate for or against a bill or local plan.

The 12 potential ballot questions (initiative petitions) for the fall election address varied advocacy issues that students could consider taking on as their own issue. A document presents them and provides links to further information. 

A list with links to advocacy groups is also included. Students are not limited to items on these lists.

These can be viewed on this google drive.

How Does a Bill Become a Law at the State Level?

This webpage form the Mass Legal Services gives a summary of the steps. Use it as a quick reference.

Student Advocacy Guide

Advocacy Videos

The League of Women Voters of Needham produced a suite of short videos:

• The Legislative Process in Massachusetts
• Advocacy through Lobbying
• Grassroots Advocacy
• Media Advocacy
• Needham Advocacy
• Boston Advocacy with State Senator Lydia Edwards
• State Advocacy with Senator Becca Rausch
• State Advocacy with Representative Joshua Tarsky