Girl Scout invites public to workshops on upcoming election

Dandashi

Girl Scout Fatimah Dandashi invites the public to attend a free workshop on Oct. 21 or Nov. 4 on civic engagement with the goal of educating voters about the 2017 state and local elections.

Dandashi is a member of Troop 4150, based in Mason District.

The first workshop is Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-noon, at the Muslim American Society Community Center, 6408 Edsall Road, Alexandria. Panelists include Del. Marcus Simon (53rd District) and Katherine Hanley, former secretary of the commonwealth, former chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and current member of the Fairfax County Electoral Board.

The Nov. 4 workshop is at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, 3159 Row St., Falls Church. 4-6 p.m. Del. Simon will speak, along with Del. Kenneth Plum (36th District) and Mason Supervisor Penny Gross.

“The goal of the workshops is to inform voters about the candidates and issues on the ballot this November,” says Dandashi, a high school junior who is homeschooled and has taken several political science courses at Northern Virginia Community College and interned on Capitol Hill. Attendees will have a chance to ask the panelists questions.

“Virginia is one of only two states holding elections for governor in 2017, meaning the whole country will be watching our election to determine how voters feel about the direction our country is headed,” she says. “Let’s get out in force this November and make our voices heard, not only in the gubernatorial election but also in the elections for the Virginia legislature and locally on the Fairfax County ballot questions.”

Dandashi organized the workshops as part of her effort to earn a Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. She says the Gold Award recognizes girls who demonstrate “extraordinary leadership through remarkable ‘take action’ projects that have a sustainable impact in their communities and beyond.”

For more information about the workshops, contact: [email protected].