UCLA MSW Students boarded the bus this morning excited and enthusiastic about the weekend ahead in Sacramento. We arrived at our hotel around 4pm, rested and then 9 UCLA students went to the Team Leader Training to learn about the 3 bills more in depth and how to effectively lobby on Monday. One of our student leaders, Gia, will have the honor of being introduced on the Assembly Floor with her team of 13 students Monday afternoon to be recognized as representatives of NASW and the social work profession.
Several other UCLA students headed to either the volunteer training or into downtown Sacramento for dinner and the local Art Walk. Spirits are high and students are excited for the days ahead. Rachel and Renee (the NASW Region H students liaison's) will be presenting tomorrow at the NASW conference on the issue of human trafficking as it relates to AB 12 and our lobbying efforts as social workers.
Below is an update about Gia's personal experience at Legislative Lobby Days thus far:
Hey, readers! We really appreciate you following along! I just wanted to
share a little about my personal experience today.
I was one of the last people to board the bus, but because I got to carpool
and sit on the bus with my good friend Diva Sanchez, it all worked out. On
the way up, we watched "Love Acctually," and episodes of "Dawson's Creek,"
and "The Wire" in between brief announcements and a fun ice breaker.
Everyone introduced themselves with the megaphone and told the group their
favorite foods. We had time to nap, chat, or even read up on the bills we
would be lobbying. Personally, I was drained from the week, but the
excitement was building.
Once we arrived, people had a chance to rest and get ready to explore
downtown Sacramento... or in some cases, to attend the team leader
training. This is something that nine first and second year students,
including, Renee, Rachel, Carlos, and myself volunteered for. The extra
review of our legislative days event and team leader roles really fired me
up. Our NASW Legislative Days have as many participants as we can get into
the legislator's offices and they include a component that most professional
lobby group won't: advocacy for the populations we serve, not just
ourselves. We also reviewed and discussed each bill and the arguments we
might be facing, which really reinforced the packets. At the very end,
right after I unintentionally called myself out as being on the team that
spoke with the governor's aide last year, I discovered that this year I will
also be unepexectedly participating in an amazing Legislative Days
opportunity. My team of 14 members total is going to be visiting Senator
Christine Kehoe, who offered to introduce us on the Assembly floor as
representatives of NASW and social workers. I am still processing this
amazing honor!
I am so excited about training tomorrow where we will build up even more
enthusiasm as a group, uniting as compassionate, informed, and confident
SOCIAL WORKERS storming Sacramento this weekend!
share a little about my personal experience today.
I was one of the last people to board the bus, but because I got to carpool
and sit on the bus with my good friend Diva Sanchez, it all worked out. On
the way up, we watched "Love Acctually," and episodes of "Dawson's Creek,"
and "The Wire" in between brief announcements and a fun ice breaker.
Everyone introduced themselves with the megaphone and told the group their
favorite foods. We had time to nap, chat, or even read up on the bills we
would be lobbying. Personally, I was drained from the week, but the
excitement was building.
Once we arrived, people had a chance to rest and get ready to explore
downtown Sacramento... or in some cases, to attend the team leader
training. This is something that nine first and second year students,
including, Renee, Rachel, Carlos, and myself volunteered for. The extra
review of our legislative days event and team leader roles really fired me
up. Our NASW Legislative Days have as many participants as we can get into
the legislator's offices and they include a component that most professional
lobby group won't: advocacy for the populations we serve, not just
ourselves. We also reviewed and discussed each bill and the arguments we
might be facing, which really reinforced the packets. At the very end,
right after I unintentionally called myself out as being on the team that
spoke with the governor's aide last year, I discovered that this year I will
also be unepexectedly participating in an amazing Legislative Days
opportunity. My team of 14 members total is going to be visiting Senator
Christine Kehoe, who offered to introduce us on the Assembly floor as
representatives of NASW and social workers. I am still processing this
amazing honor!
I am so excited about training tomorrow where we will build up even more
enthusiasm as a group, uniting as compassionate, informed, and confident
SOCIAL WORKERS storming Sacramento this weekend!
MORE UPDATES TO COME FOR THE NEXT 2 DAYS!!!
Introductions on the bus
Carlos leading chants on the bus (:
At the team leader training
GO UCLA !!!
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