Kirkwood has always been a community that fosters passion, talent, and possibility among its residents. This nurturing environment has encouraged remarkable individuals like Cece Bartin, Maddie Rowan, and Anna Chellis, now Kirkwood High School alumni, to attend the Missouri Girls State conference in summer 2022. Girls State is a leadership program where attendees simulate building a government from scratch, encouraging young women to engage in their political system.
Beyond these students’ participation in such an enriching program, Maddie and Cece were also chosen to star in the Apple TV documentary “Girls State,” which is now available on Apple TV after premiering at Sundance Film Festival in January 2024. Both Cece and Maddie were pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support for their participation in both Girls State and the film.
"When I got back home, so many peers were interested in politics and wanted to talk with me about it,” said Cece, who successfully ran for Governor. “They didn't see Girls State as ‘You're a nerd.' Instead, they said, 'You're so cool.' They were so excited for me."
Cece takes pride in how the documentary highlights young women’s shared insecurities – even if it means being followed with cameras, which was a new experience for both of them. "One of the best parts of the documentary is how it shows how flawed and insecure we all are. Often I feel like everyone has it more figured out or is more confident. Watching the documentary, I see that we're all going through the same emotions; we all have too high expectations for ourselves and compare ourselves to others. I hope young women see it and know they’re not the only ones who feel this way, and these really cool people around them also feel this way and take that with them throughout their life."
Kirkwood High School's educators played a crucial role in encouraging the girls to get involved in Girls State. “Kirkwood has fantastic educators, and they care deeply about students being involved,” said Maddie. “Mr. Ravenscraft [my AP Government teacher] pushed me to go to Girl's State. I'm thankful for the teachers, truly.”
Both Cece and Maddie want to inspire younger girls to recognize the power of their voices. Maddie advises, "Younger girls should know their voices are powerful. I think that Girls State gave me that. I was in a room full of people who had both powerful voices and things to say. The skill set that comes from public speaking is so important. Get involved and do things that make you uncomfortable."
Cece and Maddie’s journey through Girls State illustrates the impact of a supportive environment on young women, empowering them to become confident, engaged leaders. Reflecting on how to increase women's involvement in government, Cece says, "The most common question I get asked is, 'How can we make women more involved in government?' I think my answer has changed over time, but the big idea centers around thinking about how to continue to motivate and uplift one another."
"Younger girls should know their voices are powerful. I was in a room full of people who had both powerful voices and things to say... Get involved and do things that make you uncomfortable."