Hunter College students from the Public Policy Program at Roosevelt House traveled to Washington, D.C. on Friday, April 13, 2018. Dr. Shyama Venkateswar, Distinguished Lecturer and Director of the Public Policy Program, led the group of 15 students, accompanied by Roosevelt House College Assistant Gabriella Cook-Francis, for the day trip to the nation’s capital.

On the agenda for the day were two meetings, followed by sight-seeing in the National Mall area. The first meeting was held at the Center for American Progress, “an independent nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action.” Students attended a presentation on Equity and Access in Higher Education, touching on issues of racial disparities in higher education and youth activism, from CAP personnel, including Rebecca Vallas, Vice President of the Poverty to Prosperity Program; Sara Garcia, Policy Analyst; Rasheed Malik, Senior Policy Analyst; and Giovanni Rocco, Press Associate at Generation Press.

The day’s second event was held at the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office, where students were also served lunch. The ACLU is the nation’s oldest and largest civil liberties organization, and the ACLU Washington Legislative Office is where all federal lobbying is directed for the national ACLU, “promoting ACLU priorities in Congress, the White House and federal agencies.” ACLU attorneys Madhuri Grewal, Federal Immigration Policy Counsel, and Manar Waheed, Legislative Advocacy Counsel, delivered a presentation to students on how to engage in local communities, DACA, President Trump’s policy banning travel from certain Muslim-majority countries, rising bigotry and hate crimes around the world, and immigration reform.

Following the days meetings, students visited prominent sites around the National Mall area. Stops along the tour included photo-ops at the White House, the Washington Monument, and a visit to exhibits inside the Library of Congress. Enrolled students in the Public Policy Program are invited to Washington, D.C. each Spring to hear about pressing public policy issues at the national and global levels.

This annual trip is made possible by a generous donation from Nan Shaw.