Two employees from Saco & Biddeford Savings, Steph Paquet and Gillian Ballute, attended Girls’ Day at the State House on March 20, a long-standing program dedicated to connecting 8th grade girls and gender-expansive youth with Maine’s legislative process.
Now in its 30th year, Girls’ Day at the State House provides students with hands-on learning opportunities centered around policy, politics, and civic engagement.
Through a series of educational sessions and a full day at the State House, participants learn how a bill becomes a law, hear directly from elected officials and policy leaders, and engage in thoughtful discussion alongside peers from across the state.
As part of the program, students participated in a mock legislative session, where they were encouraged to ask questions, share perspectives, and confidently present their viewpoints.
Reflecting on the experience, Gillian Ballute shared, “It was a very inspirational day. It was so impressive to see these young individuals come out of their shells throughout the process and get comfortable asking questions, standing on the floor at the State House, and speaking to their points of view during the mock bill. Seeing their thoughts and confidence grow was incredibly inspiring. There are such powerful young individuals in the state of Maine.”
SBSI is proud to support initiatives that empower young people, encourage civic engagement, and help open doors to leadership opportunities across Maine.
