Students Take on Capitol Hill for Economic Justice

In February 13 Upper School students traveled to Washington, D.C., on the eve of the House vote on the budget to lobby in support of economic justice, Medicaid, and SNAP. In preparation for the trip, students spent a month engaging in the Quaker process of consensus to determine their lobbying ask, followed by in-depth research on their chosen topic. Partnering with Friends Place, a Quaker lobbying group under the FCNL umbrella, they developed their advocacy skills and learned how to effectively communicate with legislators. The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), FCNL Education Fund, and Friends Place on Capitol Hill are national nonprofit, nonpartisan Quaker organizations that work collectively to advance peace, justice, and environmental stewardship.

For many students, the experience was transformative.

“It was fascinating seeing the inner workings of our government,” said Melina ‘28. “It was good to feel like we had an impact of some sort.”

Once in D.C., students met with representatives, delivering passionate speeches about the importance of these resources, both personally and as New Yorkers. Their engagement was a powerful demonstration of Quaker values in action.

“I thought it was a really fun experience,” shared Avi ‘28. “We got to talk to a lot of interesting people and have really insightful conversations.”

This year’s trip marked a shift from previous years, replacing the traditional lobbying trip with FCNL. Instead of working within a pre-selected policy framework, students used Quaker decision making to decide on the issue they wanted to advocate on together. This shift also allowed for a larger group to participate and created a more customized experience, with students staying at Friends Place, a Quaker center in the heart of Capitol Hill.

The impact of the experience extended beyond the meetings on the Hill.

“It was really eye-opening and special to see our government at work,” reflected Sascha ‘26.

 

In addition to lobbying, students explored the city’s rich history and culture, visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Holocaust Museum, and the National Air and Space Museum. They toured monuments, spent time in Georgetown, and embraced a full three-day itinerary.