Gov Trek is a leadership development program for high school junior and senior girls designed to address the paucity of women in the halls of power. This seven-week virtual program is hosted by AAUW CA to encourage the next generation of young women to explore careers in public service and elected office. One of the priorities of AAUW’s core mission is to inform and empower girls in an effort to close the gender gap in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Gov Trek is conducted online in seven two-hour Saturday sessions, each with a different focus related to careers in politics and public service. Students learn from speakers and panelists, including current and former legislators, staffers, and consultants, and then work in groups with an adult facilitator to complete activities such as writing speeches or designing political messages. The final project to create a campaign simulation is a team competition judged by VIP industry judges with awards in several categories.

AAUW Fremont Class of 2024
Two Washington High School students represented the Fremont Branch in our inaugural year of participation. Together with teammates sponsored by five sister branches throughout California, TEAM DELISHA created an inspiring House of Representatives mock political campaign focused on climate justice. VIP judges Regina Luzincourt of Toyota North America, Ellen Montanari of Congressman Mike Levine (D-CA) Campaign Committee, and Lisa Maatz, former AAUW VP of Government Relations, selected TEAM DELISHA for the Best Voter Outreach Plan Award! Click HERE to watch the 2024 Gov Trek Finale and Award Ceremony.

Here are the feedback from our Washington High School participants: 

“The first session was fantastic. Meeting everyone and learning more about GovTrek and the competition was truly exciting. We’ve already connected with a bunch of girls and have been networking. It’s been a great experience!”

“The session went well, it was really interesting meeting other girls and AAUW volunteers in California and talking to them. It was also exciting to see what we will be doing in the future with the mock campaign, and I’m pretty eager to start working on it soon.”

We look forward to working with the League of Women Voters Fremont, Newark and Union City Branch to recruit our Class of 2025 next spring!