Kol Yisroel Hosts Ahavas Bais Yaakov Seniors for Special Advocacy Trip to Albany

Kol Yisroel recently brought 22 twelfth-grade students from Ahavas Bais Yaakov to the New York State Capitol following the completion of a comprehensive civics course taught by Shmulie Hartstein, founder of Kol Yisroel.

The program included classroom sessions teaching students the fundamentals of local and state government, how the New York State Assembly and Senate function, and how citizens can effectively engage with elected officials. The course concluded with the entire class registering to vote and traveling to Albany for a day of advocacy.

Upon arriving at the Capitol, the students split into two groups and met with several elected officials, including AM Patrick Carroll, AM Amy Paulin, Senator Christopher Ryan, AM Andrew Hevesi, AM David Weprin, and AM Paula Kay, discussing issues affecting their communities.

At 1:00 p.m., the students had a special opportunity to step onto the New York State Senate floor for a photo with Senator Bill Weber and AM Karl Brabenec.

The group later gathered for lunch, where they were addressed by several elected officials and community leaders, including AM Brian Cunningham, AM Eddie Gibbs, AM Michaelle C. Solages, Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, AM Nily Rozic, and AM Charles Lavine, Chair of the Judiciary Committee, along with Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition.

Later in the afternoon, the class returned to the Senate chamber, where Senator Bill Weber welcomed the students from the Senate floor and the chamber recognized them with a round of applause.  

Organizers described the trip as a meaningful day of civic engagement and a true Kiddush Hashem. Kol Yisroel is expanding the program to additional schools across New York to help educate the next generation about how government works and how they can advocate for their communities.