Ashley Page, founder of Youth Interested in Politics, with her sister, Kaitlin Page As a high school student, Ashley Page of Columbia served as a leader in student government. She says she “knew then that she was truly passionate about politics.” She began her college studies this past school year at Converse College where she served as president of the freshman class. This summer, she decided to move her political leadership activities from student government into the public forum.

Ashley created a new organization called “Youth Interested in Politics,” young people ages 14 to 35 who are interested in improving their knowledge of political issues from each other and from guest speakers. The organization will offer the opportunity to register community members to vote at their meetings, to learn about and discuss political issues, and to partner with politicians by having them speak at the meetings as well as staying in contact with the group.

Ashley Wheeling–Goodson, attendee, and Sheila Hemingway, speaker at the meeting and candidate for Richland County Council District 11 Page secured the Martin Luther King Community Center as the meeting place for this new group located at 2300 Green St. in Columbia. Meetings of “Youth Interested in Politics” will be held on the second Saturday of every month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. For questions, email abp2009@ yahoo.com or visit the group’s Facebook page called “Youth Interested in Politics”

The next meeting will be held Saturday, September 11, 2010. The public is invited to join the group.
Trey Bishop, Celestine Parker, A. Long, and Gerald Daniels III attended the first meeting of Youth Interested in Politics.