Colton students shine in Young Legislators program

Regional program offers students a chance to experience legislative processes firsthand

Sadie Larios, Pepper Bough Editor|April 18, 2022

Courtesy Denise Diaz

CHS students Duke Medina and Denise Diaz graduate from the Young Legislators program on April 9, 2022. Sharing the moment with them are CJUSD Superintendent Frank Miranda and CJUSD school board members Israel Fuentes and Frank Ibarra.

Colton, CA—On April 9th, 2022 at Fleming Park, the Young Legislators program recognized Denise Diaz and Duke Medina for their activism within the program during a graduation ceremony.

According to the website for 47th district California assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes, “The Young Legislators is a nine-month program to provide high school students who live, study or volunteer in the 47th District with leadership development training and an opportunity to discuss important youth related issues occurring in the community.”

Duke Medina takes a photo with local leaders, CJUSD Superientendent Frank Miranda, CJUSD school board member Israel Fuentes, and California state assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes. (Courtesy Denise Diaz)

In the Young Legislators program, students worked with board and district officials to learn about the process surrounding creating legislation. Together they created a bill to help and benefit California.

For Diaz, this was about much more than learning how to create a bill. “The reason I joined wasn’t necessarily because I wanted to go into politics,” she said. “It was because I didn’t know how politics worked in my community.”

The program made an impact on Medina because of his belief that everyone has a voice and has a responsibility to their community. He was given the opportunity to give a speech during graduation. He shared that his reason for joining originated with something said by Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai: “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”

Those who join Young Legislators use their voices to speak out for social issues they are passionate about.

For Medina, it was about mental health issues; for Denise, it was about seeing the potential in all types of students. Through their involvement, they got to meet many more students passionate about a diverse range of issues.

Denise Diaz shares her recognition certificates from the Young Legislators program. (Courtesy Denise Diaz)

In addition to learning about the process of how a bill is created and works with district members, they engage in community service hours, participate in drives, get recommendation letters, and even receive help with financial aid for college.

The only disappointment Diaz and Medina shared about their involvement with this program was the fact that they were the only student participants from Colton. For these two, it was sad to know that there wasn’t more representation from Colton when they know that Colton has much more potential than the low-income stereotype of the community indicates..

“We are not going to get representation if we don’t get involved,” said Diaz.