One of the highlights of this year’s rain-soaked Charter Day at the Capitol was the Lansing Political Figures Living Wax Museum, in which 11 charter school students from across the state “came to life” as their Senators, Representatives and even a member of the Lansing Press Corps.
MAPSA started the Lansing Political Figures Living Wax Museum in 2024 during CDAC with two goals in mind: First, to help students learn about their state government in a personal, hands-on manner; and second, to encourage the lawmakers being portrayed to engage with charter school students in a whole new way.
The Lansing Political Figures Living Wax Museum is a version of the Historical Figures Wax Museums that many schools do as a social studies project. Instead of having students “come to life” as Abraham Lincoln and Rosa Parks, though, they come to life as their state lawmakers.
On every front, this year’s Wax Museum was an enormous hit. Each of the students researched their person and gave short speeches on the Capitol steps. They were also under one of the tents in the morning, and had the opportunity meet with Senators and Representatives during that time, as well.
The lawmakers being portrayed were Rep. Tim Kelly, Rep. Ann Bollin, Rep. Ranjeev Puri, Rep. Nancy DeBoer, Rep. Donavan McKinney, Sen. John Damoose, Rep. Stephanie Young, Sen. Stephanie Chang, Rep. Regina Weiss, and Rep. Farhat. A senior member of the Lansing Press Corps, Zach Gorchow of Gongwer News Service, also had a wax mini-me.
The charter schools taking part were Charyl Stockwell Academy, Macomb Montessori Academy, Canton Charter Academy, Four Corners Montessori Academy, American Montessori Academy, and Light of the World Academy.
The lawmakers LOVED it. Charter Day at the Capitol is all about engaging with legislators, and the Lansing Political Figures Living Wax Museum proved to be one of the best engagement events we’ve ever done.
Almost all the legislators came down to meet their mini-me. Rep. McKinney invited his younger self onto the House floor and let him sit in his chair. Sen. Damoose pinned his official Senate pin on his mini-me before he gave his speech (the Senator wanted him to look official). Rep. Bollin, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, invited her mini-me into the Appropriations Committee meeting room and let her bang the gavel.
Three of the lawmakers – Rep. Puri, Rep. McKinney and Sen. Damoose – joined their miniature selves on the Capitol steps when the speeches were being given.
Lansing TV station WILX came out to cover the event, and interviewed the student from Charyl Stockwell Academy who portrayed Rep. DeBoer.
The lawmakers (and Zach Gorchow of Gongwer) took to social media to post photos of them with their wax figure charter school students, and to say how impressed they were.
Rep. McKinney, a Democrat who represents a district in Detroit, was especially emotional when he talked about how much the experience made an impression on him. He wrote on Instagram:
"Had a great time hanging out with Marcus (his mini-me from Macomb Montessori Academy), his parents and teachers. We took them on the House Floor and Marcus told me he wanted to be a legislator just like me when he grows up. In that moment, I literally held back tears because that is a huge reason why I do this work, to help inspire the next generation of leaders to use their GOD given talents to give back and serve.”
The Lansing Political Figures Living Wax Museum was also a contest, with a host of legislative staffers and media members serving as the judges.
They awarded first place to Ashley Blaszczynski of Charyl Stockwell Academy, who portrayed Rep. Bollin. And when you see them side by side, you’d have to agree it was a good choice.
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