Social work students meet lawmakers on trip to nation’s capital

This article was published in the Southern Accent on Oct. 18, 2022.

(Photo courtesy of Kristie Wilder)

A group of 14 senior social work students enrolled in the Social Welfare Issues and Policy (SWIP) course at Southern Adventist University visited Washington D.C. from Sept. 25 to 29 to discuss bills with legislators and learn about the nation’s capital.

On the morning of Oct. 6, the group met in Daniells Hall and excitedly recounted their experiences over waffles. The Accent was invited to join the unique class session.

The course’s instructor, Kristie Wilder, professor in the School of Social Work, began the debrief by explaining that the trip has been a part of the SWIP course for several years; however, this is the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic that it has taken place.

“The idea [of the trip] is that we take our policy and advocacy skills to see policy in the making and demystify the process of being able to access our lawmakers at the congressional level,” Wilder said. “Sometimes we meet with the actual lawmakers, and sometimes we just meet with professional staffers. Either is very effective. This year, [the students] got quite fortunate.”

That statement was made in reference to the students’ meeting with Representative Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee’s third congressional district, where Southern Adventist University is located. He spoke with the students for about half an hour in his office, which Wilder said is uncommon. Fleischmann even posted about the experience on his social media.

The students spoke with the congressman about bills they’d been tracking that he does not support.

“It was a conversation that I think doesn’t happen often in politics,” Wilder said. “It was good. It was differing ideologies and viewpoints but very respectful and engaging. That was a tremendous experience that they had.”

Fleischmann’s staffers took the group on a tour of the Capitol. The class was also introduced to Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn. They visited the Library of Congress, toured memorials and museums and met with lobbyists.

In addition to meeting members of the Tennessee congressional delegation, the students met in small groups with representatives of their home districts — and in one case a senator — to deliberate on existing bills.

Wilder said the students researched bills of interest to them and determined the bills’ strengths and limitations as written. In their small groups, the students crafted one to two page policy briefs with suggestions on how to improve the bills. Some students even canvassed in the D.C. area for about four hours using their policy briefs.

After her debrief, Wilder asked the students what the experience was like for them.

Isabella Eklund quickly piped up and said, “Probably one of the best trips I’ve gone on with Southern.”

Resounding nods and sounds of agreement circled the room. “Oh, absolutely,” someone added.

“For me, it really made a difference because now I feel comfortable meeting with [legislators],” Alyssa Wolf said. “I feel like I can go to my home state and schedule a meeting with a representative or senator and talk to them. [The trip] definitely changed them from being the person that is out there on TV to someone you can actually talk to. You have that right because that’s their job. Representatives aren’t celebrities.”

Other students agreed with Wolf and began discussing how surprised they were by how informed and prepared they felt talking with the politicians. Wilder jumped in and said social workers are experts in their area and know more than legislators on certain topics.

“Most lawmakers know about 5% of the 200 bills they’re sponsoring,” she explained. “They cannot be a general expert in everything. … The number of people who do not take advantage of this system that is designed for you to have access to [lawmakers] is mind-blowing.”

When the Accent asked the students how the trip differed from their expectations, Eklund said she was surprised by the demographic of the staff.

“I was expecting Capitol Hill and that whole realm of D.C. to be filled with, like, slow-paced, older adults,” she said, her classmates laughing around her. “In reality, it was fast-paced 20-year-olds. … They’re like my age.”

Sierra Dunzweiler said she expected to feel intimidated and incompetent despite the class’ hours of preparation, but she felt like she made a difference on the trip.

“It’s a lot to think about going in and trying to meet with somebody that’s essentially running our country,” she said. “But what I found is that our government really is for the people, and they want to listen to you and hear what you have to say, even if we did disagree on certain topics.”

Dunzweiler and Wolf studied and drafted a brief on bill H.R. 4898, “HALT Campus Sexual Violence Act of 2021.” They met with some representatives sponsoring the bill with recommendations to strengthen it but also had a goal of finding more Republicans to sponsor it to make it more bipartisan. During the class’ conversation with Fleischmann, who is a Republican that does not sponsor the bill, they handed him their brief.

“He looked at it and was like, ‘This is a really important topic. Thank you for bringing this to my attention,” Dunzweiler said. “ … He sponsors like 100 different bills and doesn’t know all of the ones that are out there … and so far there has only been one Republican on our bill. So just getting it to another Republican and possibly having the opportunity for him to take a look at it and support it meant a lot to me.”

Emily Raimundo and Laura Gibbs studied bill H.R. 7037, “School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act.” Gibbs explained that an act passed in June addressed some of the concerns the bill focuses on; however, the act did not address schools of social work and how they impact the mental health of students. They met with lobbyists and staff to present their recommendations.

“One of my highlights was also being able to talk to Representative Fleischmann. … Getting to explain how social work, specifically in a school setting, really contributes to the mental health of students … and that we’re important was really cool,” Gibbs said.

The students responded with a loud “Yes!” after asking the students if the trip helped shape their career goals. Many expressed interest in pursuing internships in D.C.

Wilder added that the members of this specific SWIP class have uniquely strong passion, and the group had more meetings with staff and legislators on this trip than SWIP students normally have.

When Wilder questioned the class on what the government’s representative system means to them from a Christian perspective, many students spoke up.

“One of the biggest things that Christians are supposed to be is kind, and I feel like in this country specifically … kindness isn’t shown to everybody,” said Abigail Segovia-Santos. “ … We want to advocate for kindness and people’s rights, and I feel like those two go very closely together. And if we’re not doing that, what are we doing as Christians?”

Wolf said Jesus wasn’t afraid to shake things up and call out bad practices, so it’s often okay to step on people’s toes within the government. Sarah Kole added that Jesus spoke up for marginalized people.

“I feel like for me, I have some kind of duty [to say], ‘If I see this as a Christian, I can’t just sit back and let something happen if I know that people are being treated unfairly,” Kaitlyn Deaux added.

Wilder explained that activism and advocacy are different, and while activism has its place, Jesus was a true advocate because he built relationships and backed his firm statements with knowledge and kindness.

Most of the students said the trip helped them feel ready to apply policy advocacy in their careers. Eklund described the experience as “empowering.”

“To hear you all say that makes my whole year,” Wilder responded.