This year’s FIRST National Advocacy Conference, held June 23-25, was a massive success. The Green Machine held meetings with the staff of Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Tina Smith, and even a face- to -face meeting with Rep. Dean Phillips.
The first part of the FIRST National Advocacy Conference consists of training workshops. These workshops included presentations by our team and other FIRST Robotics Competition teams, FIRST NAC staff, representatives from Thompson Coburn, which works with FIRST on STEM issues, as well as STEM policy influencers. We learned how to effectively advocate for STEM funding, specifically through the Every Student Succeeds Act Title IV Part A and the Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act. After the training, our team went to Capitol Hill to meet with Minnesota Congressmembers and their staff.
Through these meetings, we were able to gain support for Title IV part A of the ESSA, as well as backing for the Christa McAuliffe Commemorative coin. Two 1816 members also attended a meeting with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, while three other 1816 members presented on FIRST and STEM Education to the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House.
Overall, having an opportunity to go to Washington DC and talk about something you are passionate about was a dream come true. Team members came away with an appreciation for how solid preparation can lead to better meetings and results. Here are their reactions:
Prudence: “The opportunity to attend FIRST NAC was a great experience for me. I learned about the foundations of FIRST, as well as how to advocate for STEM engagement.”
Bella: “The FIRST NAC was a great experience to improve my communication skills, and to get involved in STEM policymaking at the national level.”
Oscar: “Having an opportunity to go to Washington DC and talk about something you are passionate about was a dream come true. Meeting new people from all over the US with the same mindset makes it even better.”
Tenzing: “Personally, I was given opportunities that wouldn’t be available to me anywhere else. I was able to present in front of over 280 people and even take part in a meeting with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. FIRST NAC not only brings out the best in every student, but also pushes students to perform in real-world situations with our nation’s legislature. For example, one of our team members was nervous about presenting to Members of Congress. By the end of the conference, he had gained the confidence and presentation skills needed to help him in the future.”
– by Bella, Oscar, Prudence, Tenzing