In lieu of its in-person session, American Legion Auxiliary Volunteer Girls State fulfilled its mission in 2021 by transitioning its programming to an interactive, timely, and virtual experience due to COVID-19 restrictions. The 75th session of ALA Volunteer Girls State took place over four days, June 1-4, as an interactive community-building experience over the Zoom webinar platform. Citizens also enjoyed a mix of dynamic speakers, interactive Q&A, and facilitated panel discussions in our daily assemblies.
More than 400 female high school leaders from across the state of Tennessee participated in the session and were welcomed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and ALA VGS Chairwoman Julia Wells.
The session featured a history of the 19th Amendment and Tennessee’s role in its ratification, as well as a commemoration of veterans’ service. Panel discussions covered the state judicial system, featuring a conversation with Tennessee Supreme Court Justices, a Q&A with Tennessee Senator Raumesh Akbari, and a panel of ALA VGS alumnae in public service roles across the state, all highlighting opportunities to actualize citizenship in the real world.