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46 Trinity 8th Grade students traveled to Washington, D.C., in May as they capped weeks of work in their Seminar class on how to lobby for community needs.

The D.C. trip is a student-led process, from picking the topics they will advocate for, to scheduling meetings with lawmakers and lobbyists, to navigating their groups to their meetings and keeping their groups on schedule during the three days of advocating. 

Students advocated for community resources for victims of gun violence, economic mobility, a minimum wage increase, affordable housing, and transparency in healthcare costs.

“What's really unique about this trip is that it's not a tourism trip,” said Assistant Head of School for Academics Stephanie Griffin, who teaches one of the Seminar classes and traveled with the students. “This is a trip, at its heart and soul, that's all about advocacy.”

During a visit to the U.S. Capitol, students met with Charlotte Rep. Jeff Jackson and presented their topics in hopes of garnering his support for legislation.

Students also discussed their topics with staff members from the offices of Representatives Alma Adams, Dan Bishop, and Deborah Ross of North Carolina, and Bobby Scott of Virginia, and Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Chris Murphy of Connecticut. 

Representatives from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition also helped prepare students for their congressional meetings while in Washington.