The assemblywoman, who had given the opening address at a sister rally in Watertown that same day, said she wanted to hear about the experience from the young women who made the journey as well as to thank them for getting involved in public policy discussions.
"I wanted to show my support for the young women willing to get involved in the public dialogue. It was very impressive talking to these young women showing maturity beyond their years and seeing how passionate they are about being involved and standing up for what they believe," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
"It's great they feel a sense of responsibility for their community and their country. One positive that is coming out of the current divisive political climate in our country is young people are feeling the need to get involved," she said.
The trip was organized by Potsdam High School senior Jillian Todd as part of her Capstone Project. The students and three chaperones made the trek to Washington, D.C., for the rally held on the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated as the country's 45th president.
"I planned this trip because my own moral compass did not allow me to sit silently after hearing the rhetoric used in this past election season. I knew there were countless other high school girls who felt the same way, so I wanted to give a few of them an opportunity to be part of the action. I feel that civic engagement in students is incredibly important as our futures will be affected by what happens right now," Ms. Todd said.
A fundraising campaign raised enough money to pay the cost of the trip for all of the student participants. A Go Fund Me page, for example, surpassed its goal of $2,025. A volleyball tournament was also held as a fundraiser for the event.
The students joined two busloads of adults from St. Lawrence County that travelled to the nation's capital for the event. Ms. Todd collaborated with members of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton to arrange transportation for her group.
Tammara Madeja, one of the chaperones on the trip, said the young women inspired other members of the St. Lawrence County group that travelled to Washington, D.C., and received strong support from a number of people who were unable to trip, including her own mother.
She noted her mother, an octogenarian, was devastated when Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 presidential election.
"She was thrilled to have been alive for the election of our country's first African-American president and thought she was going to get to see our country's first female president. She was devastated when that didn't happen. She lives on a tight fixed income, but she made a donation to the girls," Ms. Madeja noted.
One of the students said a family friend had stopped by her house with a $50 donation and thanked her for marching for her daughter.
Students said they have received mixed reactions from their classmates about taking part in the march.
"There were so many different ways people viewed it. Some people were really excited they were there, but there were also some people who were disappointed we went," Canton High School student Grace Bessette said.
Fellow Canton High School student Mary Chisholm said some people viewed the event as being an anti-Trump rally, but she said that was not the case. "It was pro-women, not anti-Trump," she stressed.
"It was just for basic rights," Ms. Bessette added.
Ms. Chisholm said she was also impressed by the number of men that joined the march. "It was nice to see. It was everything from high school boys to older men," she pointed out.
The students said they still are flooded with memories from the day of the rally - the sea of people; the signs; the speakers; the unity of people from different regions of the country, different faiths and different ethnic backgrounds.
The young women from Canton and Potsdam arrived at the National Mall early so they were able to stand near the stage and heard the speeches and followed the event on the Jumbotrons. They were on their feet for eight hours, but they said the group from the UU church arrived just an hour later and the crowd had already grown so large by that time they were unable to hear the speeches.
They said they had an opportunity to listen to the stories of other people who had travelled to Washington for the event and were moved when the crowd sang "This Land is Your Land," with the chorus of voices so loud and coming from the mall as well as well as from behind other buildings in the area.
"It is still so amazing to just have been there," Ms Bessette said.
Assemblywoman Jenne praised the young women for their community involvement and pointed out improvements in basic human rights in this country and around the world haven't come without a fight.
"There have been so many people fighting this fight for decades, and they are getting tired. Their fight was not for them. It was for future generations, for you. They've made strides, but it's time for reinforcements," she suggested.
She said the next generation now needs to step forward and have their voices heard.
"Keep doing what you just did. Get involved. Do something when you get in college. It sends an important message to those in power," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
The assemblywoman said she grew up hearing about victories for womens rights including the ruling from the early 1970's that prohibits gender discrimination at schools. It led to the rise of women's sports at the high school and college level.
"My mom, when she was a senior, they finally got uniforms, got to take a bus to games instead of piling in the back of their gym teacher's station wagon. Things started to change," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
The former high school three-sport athlete said lessons learned on the field, in the gym and on the ice are important lessons in life.
"We're tough, physically active, engaging in a team concept, reaching high accomplishments as a team. We've socialized ourselves to want to win," she added.
Assemblywoman Jenne said she feels Title IX was one of the major accomplishments of the 20th Century for women in the United States.
"We are able to organizes ourselves as women on a team, create bonds and friendships with other women working as a team. We have to draw on each other. You have learned how to do that in sports. We can't afford to be divided and conquered. We have to stay strong and be there for each other," she noted.
Ms. Todd said she felt Assemblywoman Jenne's visit was a valuable opportunity for the students who took part in the march on Washington to interact with an elected official serving in the state legislature.
"I am so glad we had the opportunity to connect with Assemblywoman Jenne. The other students and I are thankful for her eager attitude and words of wisdom. It was nice to get a little insight about what we can do to make a difference in the future," according to the Potsdam High School senior.
"The march sparked something in all of us, and I believe connecting with individuals in government office is one of many great ways to keep that flame burning," Ms. Todd said.
Assemblywoman Jenne said she also benefited from having an opportunity to listen to the passion shared by the young women from Potsdam and Canton high schools.
"I'm so proud of you ladies. You are kicking off one of the most important parts of your lives.
You can hold your heads high. You guys are going to rock and roll and change the world. You have to be engaged and involved, even if you don't get into politics. You have to show that we have to care about other people," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne recently stopped at Potsdam High School to listen to the experiences of young women from Potsdam and Canton that recently travelled to Washington, D.C., for the women's march. Pictured clockwise from the top right are Jillian Todd, Assemblywoman Jenne, Emma Kroll, Madison Gray, Emma Bentley-Hicks, Mary Chisholm and Grace Bessette.
BOTTOM RIGHT:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne shared information about upcoming legislation that will be voted on in the New York State Assembly dealing with issues that were one of the major areas of concern that led to the women's march in late January in Washington, D.C. Pictured are (l-r): Jillian Todd, Assemblywoman Jenne, Valerie Chiarenzelli and Tammara Madeja. Ms. Chiarenzelli, Ms. Madeja and April Barnes were the school chaperones for the trip.
Several students from Canton and Potsdam high schools and the trip's chaperones posed for a photograph with Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne after sharing their experiences from their recent trip to Washington, D.C., for the women's march. Pictured are (l-r): Tammara Madeja, Emma Bentley-Hicks, Grace Bessette, Mary Chisolm, Jillian Todd, Madison Gray, Emma Kroll and Valerie Chiarenzelli. Missing from photo: chaperone April Barnes and students Lauryn Knowlden, Lindsey Knowlden, Ellie Schonberg and Lauren Lucht.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne talks about the importance of Title IX in providing young women an opportunity to play high school sports during a recent visit with students from Potsdam and Canton that too part in the recent women's march on Washington, D.C. Pictured clockwise (l-r) are student trip organizer Jillian Todd, Assemblywoman Jenne, chaperones Tammara Madeja and Valerie Chiarenzelli and students Emma Kroll and Madison Gray.
Students from Potsdam and Canton high schools were joined by women from around the country when they stopped to take a photo next to a statue of Abraham Lincoln in front of the Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C.
