2022 Civics Showcase: Students Advocate for Change
The League of Women Voters of Needham and the Needham High School Social Studies Department co-sponsored Students Advocate for Change, the Needham High School Civics Showcase, on Saturday, June 11 at 2-4 PM at Powers Hall, Needham Town Hall.
The Showcase featured 92 Needham High juniors in 47 groups who shared their research, materials, and positions in a science fair type setting. Over 80 attendees engaged the students about their issue areas.
The Needham League thanks everyone involved in this inaugural annual event!
Watch The Needham Channel News piece about the 2022 Civics Showcase. Thanks to Municipal Producer Yuxiao Yuan and The Needham Channel News for preparing this report.
Issues that Students Have Chosen to Showcase
| Table | Issue Area | Description of Advocacy |
| 101A | Mental Health/ Substances | Rehab instead of prison for drug offenses. |
| 101B | Healthcare | Pricing of prescription drugs in America. |
| 102A | Education | Prioritize students’ mental health at school. |
| 102B | Public Safety | Police reform. |
| 103A | Climate Change/ Environment | Improved conservation of energy and advocating for increased energy efficiency. |
| 103B | Equity | Solutions for equal sports media coverage at NHS |
| 104A | Climate Change/ Environment | Adding solar panels to schools in Needham. |
| 104B | Minimum Wage | Raising the minimum wage to improve quality of life. |
| 105A | Healthcare | Free menstrual products in prisons, shelters, and schools. |
| 105B | Climate Change/ Environment | Reducing plastic waste. |
| 106A | Climate Change/ Environment | Pass the 100% Clean Energy Act to improve our economy and consumption in our community. |
| 106B | Immigration | Equality and protection for immigrants. |
| 201 | Minimum Wage | Lowering minimum wage to $11 for minors in Massachusetts. |
| 202 | Climate Change/ Environment | Electrify the Commonwealth’s vehicle fleet. |
| 204 | Reproductive Rights | Access to safe reproductive health services. |
| 205 | Climate Change/ Environment | Massachusetts 100% renewable energy by 2035 bill, H.3288. |
| 206 | Gender Equity | More girls in STEM, STEM opportunities, remove stigma that certain subjects are not for girls. |
| 207A | Reproductive Rights | Easier access to emergency contraception. |
| 207B | Public Safety | Reduce domestic violence. |
| 301 | Children and Families | An Act to Lift Children Out of Deep Poverty. |
| 302 | Climate Change/ Environment | Promoting that all new construction should accommodate solar energy. |
| 303 | Climate Change/ Environment | Solar panels. |
| 304 | Guns | Reduce gun violence. |
| 305 | Climate Change/ Environment | Composting at Needham High School. |
| 306 | Education | An Act to make childcare and preschool more affordable for working families. |
| 401 | Mental Health/ Substance Use | Substance use and addiction prevention curriculum in elementary and secondary schools. |
| 402 | Climate Change/ Environment | Make Massachusetts more sustainable. |
| 403 | Veterans Affairs | Better treatment for, and the prevention of, homeless veterans. |
| 404 | Guns | Removing the ability for normal citizens to own guns to increase public safety and decrease violence. |
| 405 | LGBTQ+ Rights | Separate sex from gender on official documents (ex. drivers license). |
| 406 | Legal gambling | Sports betting. |
| 407A | Reproductive Rights | Easier accessibility to emergency contraception. |
| 407B | Mental Health/ Substances | People who suffer from drug addiction to be held in rehabilitation facilities rather than jail cells. |
| 501A | Children and Families | Ending child marriage. |
| 501B | Education | Universal access to pre-kindergarten education. |
| 502A | Reproductive Rights | Abortion rights. |
| 502B | Climate Change/ Environment | Old growth forests. |
| 503A | Reproductive Rights | Abortion rights. |
| 504A | Election Reform | Needham should implement ranked choice voting in town elections. |
| 504B | Education | Better race education in elementary/middle school. |
| 505 | Public Safety | Train safety- changing the MBTA to be safer for riders and Boston area residents. |
| 601 | Education | Making childcare and preschool more affordable for working families. |
| 602 | Mental Health/ Substance Use | Proper substance misuse education in schools to prevent lifelong misuse. |
| 603A | Climate Change/Environment | Reducing energy consumption through use of solar panels. |
| 701 | Mental Health/ Substances | Eating disorders. |
| 702 | Animal Rights | Against animal cruelty. |
The League of Women Voters of Needham thanks Needham High School faculty and students, the Town of Needham staff, and our attendees and guests. We thank Needham Public Schools, Roche Bros. and the League of Women Voters of MA Lotte E. Scharfman Education Fund for funding the program, and door prize donors: Bertucci’s, Volante Farms, Roche Bros., Trader Joes, Cookie Monstah and Cafe Fresh Bagel.
The new civics education law requires all high school students to select a state or local issue and prepare an advocacy plan.
See our Student Advocacy Guide and How To videos prepared for student classroom use.
