California Secretary of State Shirley Weber called on more than 200 high school students to seize the power of civic engagement at the Young Leaders Empowerment Summit, a message with significant resonance as California heads into midterm elections on Nov. 8.

"It's a powerful act to be able to vote," Weber said, addressing a rapt audience of students from Park West High School, Fremont Academy, Village Academy, Paseo Academy, Ganesha High School, Chaffey High School, Don Lugo High School, and a group of young California Conservation Corps members. Voting is "the great American equalizer. Nobody gets two votes. Don't give away your one."

Throughout the summit on Oct. 7, students from the university's Bronco Advocacy League Ambassadors assisted with pre-registering high school students to vote and sharing information about student poll worker opportunities in their counties. Californians aged 16 and 17 can pre-register to vote and will have their registration become active once they turn 18.

"Voting is your power, do not give it away," Weber said. "You may not be the most popular person at your school, but [when] you vote, you become the most powerful person."

Weber, the first Black American elected as California Secretary of State, wove her personal story into her keynote address on civic engagement. Weber is the daughter and granddaughter of sharecroppers who were denied the right to vote in Arkansas until the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. During Weber's youth in Los Angeles, her mother volunteered the family home as a polling location because their neighborhood did not have one.

Themed "Amplify Your Voice Through Action," the annual event originated by Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) was hosted this year at Cal Poly Pomona.

"Being my final year in office, this year's summit holds a special place in my heart as it is the culmination of eight years of successful summits where we have hosted many hundreds of students from across the 20th State Senate District and the region as they further develop their leadership skills, civic involvement and educational growth," said Leyva, who announced earlier this year that she will not seek reelection to the state senate after serving two terms.

CSU Student Trustee and biology senior Diana Aguilar-Cruz served as master of ceremonies, warming up the audience for speeches by Leyva, President Soraya M. Coley and Dean of Students Jonathan Grady; an audience Q&A with Weber; and interactive sessions on mental health and zine-making. Mariachi Los Broncos, the university's premier student mariachi ensemble, serenaded guests over breakfast.