Democracy Right Now

We all seem to be craving this. State Representative Debbie Benefield joined several other speakers and a small but energetic group of students on the Auraria campus to celebrate democracy and to foster civic engagement among Colorado youth. The event was hosted by the Hip Hop Congress of the University of Colorado Denver and organized by their talented president Thomas Evans.

Benefield shared with the group her history of community involvement - the roots of her desire to pursue public office. Some in the audience indicated they hoped to run for office one day. She encouraged these attendees to spend at least 5 years serving the people of their neighborhoods through activities like PTA where they could truly form lifelong relationships. She emphasized that a good representative knows the hearts and minds of his or her constituents and earns their trust through hard work in the community.

Benefield also shared her first defeat and what she learned from losing a close race by just over 300 votes. She learned that she had to work harder, knock on more doors and reach out to new voters. So, in partnership with the PTA in Jefferson County, she helped form Y-Vote, a program to teach the process and importance of voting to students. The big lesson: your vote does count.

One student expressed concern over the increase in partisanship and asked how he could improve communication with fellow students who passionately express views different from his own. Benefield suggested he ask questions about why and how that student came to support that position and to listen very carefully to the answers. She said, "Perhaps you will never get them to come around to your side. But, if in the answer you hear a common goal, that's when the real communication can begin. Compromise and collaboration among people who share common goals can lead to powerful solutions to today's issues."

The evening was an engaging, educational and motivating experience for young voters. If you, too, are a young voter, Rep.Benefield encourages you to reach out and become civically engaged. For help getting started, you can contact her at www.debbiebenefield.org.