9-year-old learns about government at UMW event

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
Emily Aguilar of Laredo passed a note to her mother, who sits beside her in a hotel ballroom in Austin.
The two were listening to a presentation Jan. 28 about developments in juvenile justice, and 9-year-old Emily had a question.
Emily was the first “young girl” to attend the annual United Methodist Women’s Legislative Event, said Sue Sidney, Southwest Texas Conference UMW president.
The 20th annual event, which draws hundreds of churchwomen each year from across Texas to Austin and the state Capitol, was Jan. 27-29.
Emily is no stranger to UMW events, said her mother, Susan Aguilar of First UMC, Laredo.
“It’s either leave her at home with dad and the boys and she resents UMW or bring her with me and she learns to love UMW,” Aguilar said.
The trip to Austin and the state capitol was educational for Emily, who is home schooled, Aguilar said. And though many of the speeches about state issues—juvenile justice, health care reform, public education, environmental issues and human trafficking—were a bit too complicated for Emily to understand, Aguilar tried to answer what questions she had.
And if she sat patiently through the majority of the presentations, Aguilar let her escape to play a little Nintendo.
Sidney said it’s important for parents to begin teaching their children about how government works when they are young.
“Most of the speeches were beyond what a 9-year-old could understand,” Sidney acknowledged. “But she did understand the visit to the Capitol and watching democracy in action. We should begin educating our children on how to be a participant in a democracy even before the age of 9.
“Taking them with you to vote is an easy step—demonstrating that you are an active participant, helping them understand what effects these decisions make on their lives.”
Sidney said she and Aguilar had discussed possibly developing a curriculum for children at the event.
Joe Rubio, vice present for community relations and development for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, told churchwomen about problems in today’s healthcare system.
Rubio urged the women to continue lobbying for healthcare reform, even though nothing is likely to move through Congress before the November general election.
“Something we forget in the faith community is the power and leverage we have,” he said. “Most of (us) in the pews think as Democrats or Republicans. But parties were organized to win elections. Our purpose, our baptismal call, is one of justice—to bring it into the marketplace, the community. We cannot do it—not if we don’t realize what justice is, if we don’t remember what Scripture says.”
Isela Gutierrez of the Texas Criminal Justice Reform Coalition spoke about the progress in juvenile justice and the Texas Youth Commission, which recently made headlines for mismanagement.
The Texas Criminal Justice Reform Coalition is calling on the legislature to develop long-term strategies to address staffing problems, hire qualified prison officers, improve rehabilitative programming, strengthen the parole system and keep the facilities focused on rehabilitation.
Gutierrez urged churchwomen to write to the governor and legislators. Those messages would let state officials know that United Methodists wanted changes to prevent further scandal in the youth commission.
During the event, UMW members visited their representatives to voice views on issues coming before the next legislative session. Emily said that was her favorite part of her trip to Austin.
Her mother said she wanted Emily to see how laws were made.
Sidney said she enjoys seeing a mother and daughter sharing UMW.
“Involved women—UMW wo-men—need to share this involvement with their daughters,” she said. “I don’t believe I shared enough of this with my daughter as she was growing up. She only knew mom was busy with UMW, and (the organization) sometimes took attention away from her.”