Government official often lead hectic lives, rushing to and from meetings, incessant Zooms and phone calls from citizens demanding their time and attention.
So, it’s all the more notable when some are willing to take time from their busy schedules to speak into the lives of young people eager to learn about what they do and why they do it.
That was the case last week when new Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas greeted a group of high school and college students who are participating in a summer internship and enrichment program sponsored by PennLive and The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg.
They are spending their summer learning about local, state and national government, but also about global affairs and honing up on life skills to catapult them into careers within a few years.
Several are college students, but most are high schoolers in our region. One is in the last year of middle school but is so intent on learning about the world, he insisted on being a part of this unique summer experience.
Commissioner Douglas welcomed them all with open arms, surprised at their questions about the deaths among inmates at Dauphin County prison, their curiosity about how taxpayer money is spent, and why the county needs three commissioners.
Douglas took time to answer all of their questions and even took them on a tour of his office, replete with two guitars dangling from a freshly painted wall.
You could read the shock on their young faces when they saw those guitars. How cool is that? A commissioner plays the electric guitar?
Douglas, who they also learned is a pastor, dispelled many of their misconceptions about government and the people running it being dull and boring.
But Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams may have upped one on the commissioner. She treated these budding world leaders to lunch in her cabinet room, complete with sandwiches, potato chips, sodas, and best of all, brownies.
The students learned a lot about how local government works and why sometimes it doesn’t. But the students also got a rare and closeup look at the people who pull the levers of power and call the shots.
They got to hear Commissioner Douglas, only six months in office, talk about how he’s still learning the ropes, doesn’t have all the answers and is lucky to have people standing by to help when he needs it. He even invited them to apply for an internship in his office next year.
They got to hear Mayor Williams talk about how her dissatisfaction with the curriculum in her child’s school propelled her into public office. She ran for school board and won. Then, she ran for the City Council and won. Then, she ran for mayor, and the rest is history.
They got to meet Fire Chief Brian Enterline, Deputy Chief of Police Kenny Young, Special Assistant for Community Affairs Deborah Robinson, Communications Director Matt Maisel, and a slew of other department heads and officials eager to share information about their work in the city.
The young people got to shake hands with Police Commissioner Thomas C. Carter who just happened to stop by the mayor’s office as they were finishing lunch. He told them to reach for the stars, never give up, and stay out of trouble. There’s something about a big man in police uiniform with a gun on his hip that makes you sit up and listen.
High school and college interns with Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams in her chambers during a visit in June 2024.But more than that, being in the mayor’s office with the police commissioner and her staff made these young people feel like they mattered.
Such experiences can have a profound impact on young people. They see the important work of mayors, commissioners, police officers, fire chiefs and those dedicated people keeping our streets clean. They better understand why it’s important to pay attention to candidates for public office and to vote for people of integrity.
We thank these government officials for being willing to take a few hours out of their day to inspire the next generation of leaders. These young people will never forget it.
Article by: Joyce M. Davis originally published on July 10, 2024 on PennLive and can be viewed here.
