Shyia Whiting and Becky Blood, both political science majors, as well as Kyleigh Weir, a legal studies major, traveled to Washington, D.C. in June 2024 to participate in the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) Conference and Lobby Day. CCL is a non-profit and nonpartisan organization that engages volunteers from across the country in climate advocacy efforts. The three ISU students attended a student summit and various sessions as well as advocacy training workshops during the conference, and then participated in the Lobby Day activities on Capitol Hill. In their free time, the three students visited the National Museum of Natural History, as well as notable D.C. monuments, including the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Reflecting on their experience, the three students noted that they had productive conversations at the student summit and that lobby day was a great learning opportunity, emphasizing that everyone they met with on Capitol Hill was open and receptive to the conversations surrounding climate policy and excited to see young people involved in lobbying.
Professor Noha Shawki, who coordinated and planned this program in collaboration with Matt Hartman, a local CCL volunteer in central Illinois, noted that attending the CCL conference and lobby day provides students with learning opportunities and professional development experiences that complement what they learn in the classroom, helping them acquire valuable knowledge and professional skills. She added that the Department of Politics and Government has had a long-standing commitment to providing students with immersive and experiential learning opportunities that augment their college experience and help them develop their civic skills.
