More than 30 Niagara University students learned about effective lobbying during the Ostapenko Center’s annual political advocacy trip to Washington, D.C., March 30-April 1, 2025. The students were members of the university’s Black Student Union, Latinos Unidos, and the Social Work Student Association.
Before the trip, the students discussed how they planned to advocate for the support of two bills: H.R. 777, The College Hunger Gap Act of 2025, which requires the Department of Education to send information regarding potential eligibility for assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to certain college students; and H.R. 811, The Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025, which aims to establish a competitive grant program to support youth mentoring programs for eligible youth, and to provide for social and emotional learning, employability skill development, career exploration, work-based learning, and other youth workforce opportunities.
In Washington, the NU group received additional advocacy training with Dr. Michael Stevens to prepare for their upcoming visits with legislators. Dr. Stevens is executive director of Hopebound, an organization that works to revolutionize access to mental health and wellness support for young people from historically marginalized communities. He shared his extensive experience with advocacy campaigns and advised the students that knowing their personal stories is important when advocating for a cause.
This advice was especially relevant for senior business major Avante Walker, who said that programs like EBT/SNAP have been vital resources for his family.
“This experience turned my advocacy project into more than just an assignment," he said. "It truly became a personal mission. I realized that speaking up for students who are struggling with hunger was my responsibility on this advocacy trip and I took that role seriously. I also developed a deeper sense of empathy and gratitude, realizing how many people face challenges like hunger and food insecurity, often without others knowing.”
On April 1, the students visited the offices of Representatives Claudia Tenney, Nick Langworthy, Joseph Morelle, Tim Kennedy, and Hakeem Jeffries, House minority leader. Several students also had the unique opportunity to walk through the highly secured tunnels underneath the Capitol building with one of Rep. Jeffries’ staffers.
In addition to meeting with the legislators, the students toured Capitol Hill and the Smithsonian's African American History and Culture Museum. They also stopped by the House of Representative’s visitor gallery.
Canadian social work student Michael Cassidy’s only knowledge of American politics was through podcasts and television shows like “Firing Line,” so he was curious to see how members of Congress argued their divergent positions “in real life.”
“Almost all Canadians agree on universal health care, a woman's rights to her body, and subjects like gun control,” he said. “Even the Canadians that disagree are polite. I was curious to hear and maybe understand the opposing views.”
This was Souzana Kousis’ second advocacy trip. The criminal justice major noted that the experience “solidified my awareness of the legislative process and social justice drive and passion. We learned about serious issues, obtained valuable knowledge of the legislative process, and had an opportunity to participate and make our voices heard.”
Accompanying the students were Dr. Rolanda Ward, endowed faculty director of the Ostapenko Center and chair and professor of social work; Dr. Tanyetta Carter, faculty fellow; Kaylyn Townsend-Kensinger, instructor; and Dr. Yonghong Tong, associate professor of computer and information sciences. Social work interns Jennifer McCarthy and David Morgan were also part of the NU group.
“This year, it was exciting to watch our Niagara University students blossom on Capitol Hill just like the famous cherry blossoms,” said Dr. Ward. “They learned and practiced their advocacy skills and left D.C. more informed about how they can build a just society where the whole person is cared for through institutional programs.”
"This experience has motivated me to use my voice to create change, and I am more committed than ever to advocating for the rights and needs of others, especially those who are often overlooked and not accounted for," said Walker.