Having met with New York Congresswoman Nydia Veláquez's Legislative Correspondent during EdTA's Arts Advocacy Day, a goal of mine was to continue to build that relationship and have an opportunity to follow up with the Congresswoman. Keeping in touch with her Legislative Correspondent, I was able to find out that she was holding a Open Forum/Town Hall in her district to speak with Millennials and how she can help at a national level as well as her constituents in her district. Being a forward thinker, the Congresswoman also had along side her a panel of Millennials who work in various fields to give their insight and knowledge to the community. The room had filled with many residents all of whom identified as a Millennial and spoke about their concerns to the congresswoman.
One of the New York Chapter Board Members also in attendance, asked a question about how can we not only help Millennials but the next generation to succeed and providing them the resources without having to be in fear of a large amount of debt as well as not feel empowered to start their own business. It's important to note that Congresswoman Velázquez's is a member of the Small Business Committee and she's introduced bills to help with this issue. A panelist spoke about how important it is to start a coalition to band together and advocate on issues. Which really resonated to me, since attending EdTA's Arts Advocacy Day as well as this year's National Arts Advocacy Day, its been important to me to advocate for the Arts and to also empower my student leaders the New York STO to also find ways into being advocates.
Congresswoman Velázquez's Millennial Event was a success and a great learning opportunity all in attendance. Remembering that it starts at a local level, then state and finally nationally. It's important to remember what issues are more for a local, state or national level and what the greater impact will be. Your one voice can start a coalition of support for a cause to show how much of an impact it has on a community. I'm also looking forward to this weekend's upcoming EdTA event in NYC, Broadway Back To School, which I have invited the Congresswoman to attend as a guest of mine as I am one of the sponsors for and on the committee for the event. All of this happened from one conversation during EdTA's Arts Advocacy Day and the great work the organization has done to prepare it's members to speak with their representatives.
