Author Spotlight
Jilli Foley
When his mom non-consensually signed him up for debate camp, then eighth-grader Charlie Birt never thought he would trade in his football cleats to veer onto a path filled with opinionated bills and political campaigns. A difficult interest to start learning about, but leading him to a passionate future for himself — a future in politics.
After years of debate camps, campaign work and Youth and Government trips, Birt found a passion for politics as a non-eligible voter but educates his life towards leadership in his community.
Birt has taken on the role of a political leader in the community through assuming the presidency of Young Republicans Club and is Youth Governor of Kansas in the mock parliament club, Youth and Government.
Since that first debate camp, Birt’s interest in politics has escalated through modest conversations with more educated upperclassmen and friends. The weekly Taco Tuesdays in Young Republicans Club and Youth and Government Club meetings gave Birt an open environment to develop his political opinions.
“They really encouraged me to get out in the open about politics because personally I got to create my own personal stances,” Birt said.
Last fall, Birt was elected Youth Governor of Kansas which gave him the the highest leadership role possible for his age. In September, all the Youth and Government clubs in Kansas traveled to Topeka for a convention where all members vote on positions.
Through three years of dedication, he has worked up through the Youth and Governor parliament from a House Representative his freshman year to Youth Governor junior year. As Youth Governor, Birt will have the opportunity to review and sign active bills and represent the state of Kansas in a national convention March 2020 in Washington D.C .
“Youth and Government has shown me a career path I wanted to take,” Birt said. “I really got a passion for representing my state but then also for government itself and the way it can help people and preserve a lot of the rights that are in your country.”
Junior Anna Heide has looked up to Birt and his dedication to Youth and Government, which has taught her many concepts and processes within the government.
“He’s the one that everyone looks up to because you can clearly tell he works harder than any of us in the program,” Heide said. “You just genuinely see that he is in his element.”
Though the clubs have impacted Birt’s interactions with those of different political opinions, he greatly admires the influence from his own grandpa, Chuck Madden.
“He really taught me how to be a gentleman in society thats strives not only to achieve success for yourself, but impact other people in a positive way,” Birt said.
Conversing with his grandson about aviation and watching Fox News, Madden has not just seen Birt’s potential politically, but has watched him to grow into a caring person.
“We talk about politics a little bit when he comes over, but he mostly comes to hang with his grandparents because we are very close,” Madden said. “He’s also one of the only 16-year-old kids I’ve ever met to hug me in public.”
To stay involved in politics, Birt started participating in different offices and campaigns to understand his future in politics. He’s spent hours making various phone calls and sitting on people’s porches discussing the politics and community changes.
Birt has worked for over 20 campaigns for politicians including Kevin Yoder and Roger Marshall by helping with the social media, fundraising, and many office and community jobs that he learns during his high school career.
“I love working in federal elections because I think that’s probably one of the most representative of our country and of our nation,” Birt said. “And that’s gotten me really passionate about it because we are creating a voice on the national scale for our community and states.”
Birt’s political activity has impacted others as well. A firm handshake can kickstart a deep and open conversation with classmates or people at a campaign potluck. All throughout, Birt pushes himself to reach out to his community and listen to other’s beliefs and ideas to create a wider look on things.
“It’s great because I get to interact with so many people and hear their opinions and to represent them the best I can,” Birt said. “I do my best to know as many people as I can.”
Although Birt is not eligible to vote, he focuses his extra time learning and being impacted by people around the community. His door-to-door campaigns for different politicians turn into 30-minute front porch conversations with all different people who have all different governmental views.
“Something that I learned a lot [through] experiences is that leadership is personal, not postional,” Birt said. “You don’t have to be in a leadership position to do the best to influence and help out your community.”
Birt has focused his mind and energy to forward his life in the political world and as many leadership opportunities he has time for. Being politically involved at 16 has brought Charlie to a significant understanding of his life.
“Charlie has a lot of his own ideas and I encourage him by saying you gotta make up your own mind and find out the facts to vote for the best people,” Madden said. “He’s a great grandson and I’m extremely proud of who he’s become.”
Birt will carry on his vision for himself and start planning for what is yet to come for his life in politics and for himself.
“I do my best to aim high towards my goals for the future,” Birt said. “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue would be a pretty cool house to be in.”
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