Legislative Day Reflection

Adult Field Trip!

On March 12, patrons met at Koelbel Library to take a bus to the Colorado State Capitol for an all-day civics field trip. This was the first of Arapahoe Libraries’ Exploring the Community Field Trips, a part of the Community Connections series. The day had to be planned around the unknowns, as the legislative process is incredibly dynamic. In the buzz of everything, it can be difficult to concentrate details into a cohesive story. But leaning into that difficulty is a central aim of the Community Connections series.

Legislature in Action

We first sat in on House and Senate proceedings. Outside of those walls, issues can seem rather polarizing. But inside, it was evident just how many detailed stakes must be considered. We watched in real time as representatives articulated the conflicting needs of their constituents. After this, we took a tour of the capitol, watching lobbyists wait outside of large doors, vying for legislators’ attention. It was as if all the opinions of the state were echoing under the dome, becoming concrete here.

It was almost enough to leave your head spinning, and so our next stop was across the street at the annex building, where the volume was lowered in focusing on our three guest speakers. Representative Hamrick emphasized her work across the political aisle, noting how she listens to the mayor, the sheriff, the school board and the public she represents – voting according to their wishes, not just those of her party. Michael Dohr, a bill drafter, explained just how many people are actually writing the bills – experienced attorneys and editors all highly detail-oriented. It was this concentration of multiplicity into singularity that stood out to me throughout the day – how it is possible for the overwhelming details to become readable through organization, flexibility, and faith in resolution.

This was further punctuated by Joe Miklosi, a lobbyist whose passion for the democratic process was felt by all attendees. He didn’t deny that lobbyists have a reputation for deceit and toughness but again leaned into that complication with purpose. He said that despite these divisive times, being inside of the process makes him an unexpected optimist. He then started tearing up – saying that in advocacy, you will often lose, but you keep going. It was a powerful conclusion to our Q&A.

Community and Democracy

We headed to the Scottish Rite for boxed lunches, where we truly got to be in community with one another. Angela Engel, our guide for the day, prepared us for the next step on our agenda, teaching us that the public is the missing link in the political process, and that we are all qualified to testify at committee hearings. We felt it. We split into groups and sat in on hearings for finance, agriculture, and education. The general assembly was running late, demonstrating how mutable these schedules truly are, unintentionally leaving the field trip on a bit of a cliff-hanger – making returning to the public’s house all the more enticing as the bus brought us back to Koelbel.

What story is being told of us? We elect representatives to do the telling in a beautiful theater, with its golden dome, stained glass portraits and cascading staircases. Formally dressed legislators and aids rush in and out on important phone calls. We see various updates on their debates and decisions on our various screens, swarmed with abbreviations and technicalities that we know apply to our lives, but can still feel inaccessible. This day reminded us that we can be narrators, too.

The library serves as a cornerstone for democracy by realizing the accessibility of self-governance. Providing free access to information and welcoming spaces for gathering, the library makes civic participation possible for everyone. This field trip was designed to reach that goal beyond the library walls -- to demonstrate that we can, in fact, concentrate the great buzz of information into great meaning for our communities.