On the Hill: Sheena Hutchinson (Howard University-School of Divinity), Hadeel Edelman (TC King Street), Cindy Ramirez (TC King Street), Aisha Nyongo (Exchange Student from Lagos, Nigeria), Danielle Stewart (TC Williams Satellite), Mignon Clyburn (FCC Commissioner), Gaynelle Diaz (ARHA Program Coordinator), Khadijah Kuss (Leadership Participant) and Tea Gibson (TC Satellite).
Students from TC Williams King Street & Satellite Campuses along with ARHA’s Momentum Leadership Program attended the Third Annual BWR Women of Power Summit on Capitol last month. The Momentum Leadership Program is co-funded by the City of Alexandria's Youthfund.
Thursday, March 27, was designated as Advocacy on the Hill Day. They attended 16 scheduled bi-partisan congressional meetings with members of the House and Senate.
BWR is an intergenerational group of women dedicated to bringing “voice” to issues that disproportionately affect women of color. The goal of the day was for students to learn how to advocate for issues such as women’s income equality, Stand Your Ground Laws and the Repeal of the Voters Rights Act through direct interaction with women who have been advocating for decades.
Students sat alongside Lucia McBath, mother of slain teenager, Jordan Davis of Florida as she presented the legislative requests for hearings and/or companion legislation in the Senate for the Stand Your Ground Laws with congressional staff of Bill Nelson (R-Fla.).
“I have learned more here than I think I would have at school today,” said Cindy Ramirez of T.C. Williams King Street Campus. The students from T.C. Williams (both campuses) were given assignments to summarize their experiences advocating on Capitol Hill.
“I felt like I was really doing something positive,” said Tea Gibson of T.C. Williams Satellite Campus.
Students were actively engaged with congressional staff of the following senators and representatives: Senators Burr (R-N.C.), Levin & Stabenow (D-Mich.), Warner and Kaine (D-Va.), Shelby (R-Ala.), Cardin & Mikulski (D-Md.), Chambliss (R-Ga.), Sen. Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Hagan (D-N.C.), Brown (D-Ohio), Nelson (R-Fla.), Cornyn (R-Texas); Representatives Bachus (R-Ala.), Hudson (R-N.C.) and Wallburg (R-Mich.).