New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The “New Bedford Votes Youth Empowerment Program” is not only getting the youth interested in local politics, but it is giving them paid jobs to work as poll workers during elections.
New Bedford election commissioner, Manny DeBrito and Ward 4 City Councilor Derek Baptiste took a different approach to spark interest into the youth during a poll worker training event.
Rather than going through the motions at a training session on a rainy Saturday morning that most likely none of the kids wanted to actually attend, Manny and Derek took this opportunity to deliver powerful messages to the kids about how local government changed their lives.
The kids were quickly engaged once the Ward 4 Councilor stood up and began speaking about his life journey. At one point he was almost brought to tears speaking on the trials and tribulations he has experienced growing up in a rough neighborhood.
The most touching part of the whole experience was when both men began speaking about former New Bedford Mayor, Fred Kalisz. They reflected on how Mayor Kalisz truly made an impact on their life and entire neighborhood from bringing busses full of kids to their first concerts and sporting events, to building basketball courts in their neighborhoods.
I felt like I had to ask them afterwards why they felt it was important to tell the kids about Mayor Kalisz.
What could of been a quick and boring training on how to be a poll worker, turned into a deeply meaningful conversation that will leave this group of kids with a much better understanding of how important the process of an election truly is.
I also believe it is important to clarify that neither Manny DeBrito or Derek Baptiste ever even remotely hinted as to who to vote for, or which political party is superior than the other. The entire premise was speaking on how a former mayor changed their lives and how they want to do the same for the next generation.
Want to learn more about the “NB Votes Youth Empowerment Program”? Checkout the video below!
This is a very powerful story that should be shared in all schools within New Bedford. It is a brilliant and simple action led! These two gentlemen are doing more for the city by example than any high faluting program. It is especially touching to hear their respect for former Mayor Fred Kalisz. He was a peoples’ mayor in all respects. He was also railroaded by a political machine that he was not a part of! They didn’t get their way while Kalisz was mayor! Scott Lang was a member!