Nearly 100 National College Attainment Network (NCAN) members and the students they serve representing 25 states convened in Washington, DC, March 20-21 for our annual Advocacy Training and Hill Day.
This two-day experience focused on advocacy skill-building sessions and discussions of key priorities with federal policymakers.
On day one, students, practitioners, and advocates engaged in interactive exercises to prepare for meetings with members of Congress with the help of Penn Hill Group. NCAN CEO Kim Cook concluded
the day’s activities by facilitating a conversation with Viviann Anguiano, Director of Education at The White House Domestic Policy Council, on the Biden Administration’s
higher education policy priorities for this year.
Day two opened at the Dirksen Senate Office building with a panel discussion featuring Amanda Beaumont, Professional Staff Member at the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, HHS,
Education, and Related Agencies, Chance Russell, Economist and Policy Advisor at the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Amaris Benavidez, Professional Staff Member at the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and Patrick Fox, Education Policy Advisor at the Senate
Health, Education, and Labor Committee. These policy professionals offered the audience their experiences and insights on the federal policy process and potential opportunities for policy change in the 118th Congress.
NCAN members and students then spent Hill Day in 100+ meetings with their congressional offices to share their stories and advocate for priorities such as strengthening the purchasing power of the Pell Grant and the challenges related
to the rollout of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). NCAN also led a group of members in discussion with officials from the US Department of Education and the Office of Federal Student Aid on timely issues including the
FAFSA and other guidance that could impact the work of our membership.
You can see more of members’ and students’ experiences via their posts on LinkedIn and X using the hashtag #NCANHillDay. See below for highlights:
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