State Rep. Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth, met with students on Friday, May 18, to share his venture into politics and to answer the many questions students had.
Fernandes, who is not much older than the students he talked with, currently serves in the Massachusetts House representing Martha’s Vineyard, Falmouth, and Nantucket. He discussed an array of topics with the high school students. Questions ranged from gun safety legislation to generating change through grassroots efforts, to ways students can advocate for issues in the community.
“We need to engage and encourage a new generation of leaders to take on challenges facing our local community and our country. We have a lot of work to do, but these Vineyard high students give reason to be optimistic about our future,” said Fernandes.
Fernandes has made youth engagement a central effort in his office, and is an advocate at the State House for mandatory civics education and automatic voter registration. He plans to return to the high school in the fall to further engage with high school students.
