For 27 years, Girls’ Day at the State House has brought 100 8th-grade girls to the Maine State House to learn more about their government and inspire them to shape their communities. Since 2020, Girls’ Day has been virtual, but what has stayed the same is making sure participants get to connect with legislators, lobbyists, activists, and each other to understand why policy matters, and how to take action to make change.  In 2023 we will have virtual sessions and an in-person day at the Statehouse.

Girls’ Day exists to help participants understand how laws and policies affect their lives, learn how policies and laws are made in Maine, and get inspired to make positive social change. You’ll learn real-life stories from legislators, lobbyists, activists and organizers, and get to practice reading bills and thinking about opportunities for change in your own communities.

Girls’ Day is open to 8th grade students and participants who identify as girls or as gender-expansive, gender-nonconforming, or nonbinary. We welcome and celebrate girls of all abilities, backgrounds, regions, religions, and experiences.

Girls’ Day is also attended by lots of legislators, lobbyists, activists, and leaders. What we all have in common is commitment to make our communities healthier and happier through policy and legislation, and excitement to open the doors of the State House to young people!

Usually, applications are due in January, and Girls Day takes place in March of each year. There are virtual and in-person events as part of Girls Day.

Yes! It’s great to be able to come to all of the program, but we know that isn’t always possible. Please do try to attend all or most of the sessions though!

Having access to a computer and the internet will make it much easier to connect to Girls’ Day. But we are happy to help you find a school, library, or local organization that can help you get online!

Yes. Girls’ Day is a program of the Maine Women’s Lobby Education Fund. We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which helps Mainers develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage in feminist, anti-oppression-based public policy advocacy and civic life. We never support political candidates or political parties. We do actively support feminist, anti-racist, and trans- and LGBTQ+-inclusive values.

Yes. Girls’ Day is a chance to welcome young people into political and policy work who might not feel that it’s ‘for them’, because women, trans people, and queer- or LGBTQ+ people are still less likely to be leaders in policy than men. If you’re a girl, gender-nonconforming or gender-expansive youth, trans or non-binary, there’s a place for you in our community.

After a quarter century of youth leadership development through Girls' Day at the Statehouse, the MWL Education Fund is expanding with the Youth Policy Leadership Forum. This program guides 50 high school students through the legislative process, from the time the Legislature is seated through committee work, bill hearings, and final votes, centering gender equity at each step.

This program is open to Maine high-school students who want to learn about gender equity and justice through policy change and legislation. Students of all gender identities are encouraged to apply, 50 will be chosen to join us.

Participants will learn directly from people in the work - legislators, lobbyists, activists, and organizers - about what's happening each month at the Legislature. They will choose their own bills to follow and how and when to take action on them, and visit the Statehouse to watch it happen in real time.

Applications will be open in January and the new cohort will be selected in early February 2023. The program will take place with monthly virtual sessions from February to May and an in-person session at the Statehouse in April. All expenses for travel will be covered.