Girls on the Hill: 140+ Young Leaders Step Into the Capitol
February 26, 2026
OLYMPIA – On February 11, more than 140 middle and high school girls and nonbinary students from across Washington gathered on the Capitol Campus for Girls on the Hill, a civic engagement and leadership experience hosted by the Washington State Women’s Commission as part of the Center for Women & Democracy Women at the Capitol event.
Students traveled from Western Washington, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and beyond, bringing their curiosity and big questions straight into the heart of state government.
Learning from the Leaders of Today
Throughout the day, students heard directly from legislators, commissioners, agency leaders, and lobbyists about what public service truly looks like. Thanks to the advocacy and partnership of Representative Jamila Taylor, more than a dozen Representatives joined students on the House floor to share about their work and answer questions. The House Floor tour created a rare opportunity for young people to picture themselves in those very seats.
One of the most meaningful moments came when students from Spokane connected with their own representative, Natasha Hill. She spoke about her policy priorities and her path to public service, and shared that she once walked the halls of the very same high school as the students standing before her. In that moment, public leadership felt tangible and close to home.
Practicing Their Power
Students did not just learn about lawmaking. They practiced it.
During a hands-on mock lobbying activity, the 140-plus students and their chaperones navigated the House and Senate office buildings, drafting notes to legislators, pitching their ideas, and collecting passport stamps when a legislator endorsed their proposal. They refined their messages, received real-time feedback, and experienced firsthand how advocacy moves through the building.
As part of the day, students also visited the Governor’s Office, where they presented their mock bills to leaders including Nam Nguyen of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, Lisa Keating of the LGBTQ Commission, Patrick Stickney from the Office of Equity, and Caitlin Safford, Health Policy Advisor in the Governor’s Office. The experience underscored that policymaking is not abstract. It is collaborative, human, and accessible.
Building the Next Generation of Public Servants
This day would not have been possible without strong partnership. State agency staff and Women’s Commissioners independently led and supported programming throughout the day. Dozens of Washington Senators and Representatives participated in various activities and conversations with students.
Tri-Cities Diversity & Inclusion Council and Strong Women Achieving Greatness brought 50 students from Central and Eastern Washington. Girl Scouts of Western Washington brought nearly 90 students from the West side of the state. Sponsors Uber and Symetra helped ensure students could participate fully and comfortably.
Girls on the Hill is about more than a single day at the Capitol. It is about access, visibility, and planting the seeds of civic leadership early. Again and again, partners and legislators shared the same reflection: the students themselves were what made the day so powerful.
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