Jamestown legislators visit classrooms tomorrow

Deputy Minority Whip Bruce J. Long (R-Dist. 74 Middletown, Jamestown) and Senate Majority Leader Teresa Paiva-Weed (DDist. 13 Newport, Jamestown) will visit Lawn Avenue Middle School students on Friday, Oct. 12 to discuss each of their roles in Rhode Island's government. They will address the students in grades 7 and 8 and answer questions concerning the debates, compromises, and procedures that take place throughout the legislative process.

"To be able to go into a classroom, as an individual, and communicate to these young people in a face-to-face setting is great," said Rep. Long. "Our discussions will help to put a face to their local government. Hopefully this visit will help to foster a more personal relationship not only between the students and us, but also between the students and all of their elected representatives that will be a building block for a lifetime of active participation in their democracy."

This visit is in recognition of America's Legislators Back to School Week. This is a national event that is sponsored annually by the National Conference of State Legislators, and its purpose is to increase America's youth's understanding of, and participation in, our government, both locally and nationally.

Rhode Island legislators have been participating in this program since 2002. Last year, more than 70 local legislators took part in classroom visits. Rep. Long and Senator Paiva-Weed have taken part in this annual event together in previous years, and are among the first to do so this year. This goal for this year is to surpass last year's record participation numbers.