福利导在线观看鈥檚 24th annual Advocacy Day in Richmond continued a long-running tradition among Virginia鈥檚 four-year public institutions of student-led engagement with state lawmakers to advance issues critical to higher education as well as initiatives that benefit all residents of the Commonwealth.
At the heart of the experience was a focus on building connections.
Prior to a day of meetings on Jan. 24 with General Assembly members, the group of 48 students, one of the largest to take part in Advocacy Day, gathered to learn how they can make their voices heard and how their time in Richmond can open new doors.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e here today, you鈥檙e invested in your future,鈥� said Wyatt Toehlke 鈥�18, Virginia鈥檚 assistant secretary of commerce and trade.
Toehlke was one of four guests who participated in a panel discussion with Radford students led by university Board of Visitors member Jennifer Wishon Gilbert. The panel also featured Secretary of the Commonwealth Kelly Gee, Virginia21 Executive Director Kate Slayton and Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist Jeff Schapiro. The discussion was designed to give an insider鈥檚 perspective on both the state鈥檚 political process and how students can use an event like Advocacy Day to reach their career goals.
鈥淵ou are students learning new things in this place of ideas,鈥� Gilbert said. 鈥淭his is a place where there have been ideas that have changed the world.鈥�
A significant part of Toehlke鈥檚 time with the students was spent sharing how his Radford education prepared him to pursue his passion 鈥� a career in politics. The Virginia Beach native spoke about the political science program, pointing out how the quality of his professors and the personalized learning at Radford inspired him to forge his own path to learning Russian and studying abroad in Ukraine while working towards his degree. The experience, he said, prepared him to serve in Gov. Glenn Youngkin鈥檚 administration as one of the state鈥檚 top executives on international trade.
Toehlke also made himself available to students during the Advocacy Day networking event on the night of Jan. 23.
鈥淚 think people conflate networking with something negative,鈥� Toehlke said. 鈥淣etworking should be treated as a chance to have a meaningful conversation with someone because you find that person interesting and engaging. You鈥檙e not just trying to get their business card. I鈥檓 encouraging students to approach it in a genuine way.鈥�
Gee, who rose from executive director of the Virginia Lottery to the role of secretary of the commonwealth by her mid-30s, echoed this sentiment.
鈥淵our network is your strength,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think so much of that is getting to know people on a personal level. Get to know people that you work with. Take those professional relationships and go one inch deeper.鈥�
While encouraging students to build connections that can enhance their futures, Gee tied relationship-building to the work students would do with lawmakers the following day.
鈥淭here鈥檚 election season, and then there鈥檚 what gets done here 鈥� it鈥檚 totally different,鈥� Gee said. 鈥淭hey (lawmakers) know each other, and it鈥檚 collegial. There鈥檚 real work being done here. And it鈥檚 important to advocate for your issues.鈥�
Slayton鈥檚 nonprofit, Virginia21, empowers college students to participate in the legislative process. A key bill that Radford students brought to the attention of lawmakers, the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program, concerns food security at state institutions.
鈥淗unger is getting new attention, especially the connection between eating and mental health,鈥� Slayton said.
She pointed to the importance of improving both the quantity and quality of food available to college students, a message that resonated with Madison Canterbury of the Class of 2025.
鈥淚鈥檓 a future educator, so I鈥檓 invested in this issue at the college level but also for young learners and seniors,鈥� Canterbury said. 鈥淚 want to make sure we鈥檙e helping people of all generations.鈥�
Canterbury, a resident of Fauquier County, was grateful for the opportunity to build connections that will benefit her future, as well as outcomes for all Virginians.
鈥淵ou really do have a voice here, and legislators are hearing us,鈥� she said.