Capitol Hill is Filled with Red Blazers : FCCLA Youth Leaders Advocate for Strong Support of Career and Technical Education

Acorn High School Senior, Makenna Goss and her advisor, Mindy Lyle, took part in the Capitol Leadership experience last week Washington, DC.  Makenna is President of the Acorn Chapter and Arkansas Vice President of Parliamentary Law.  The Arkansas delegation met with Senator Tom Cotton’s office and the Representative offices of French Hill, Rick Crawford, and Bruce Westerman to advocate for CTE funding.  “I am amazed at the opportunities FCCLA offers its members.  Capitol Leadership was an incredible experience. These students were able to see their government in action,” said Mindy Lyle, Acorn FCCLA Advisor.

Washington, D.C.— Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) youth leaders and Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) professionals traveled from across the country to participate in FCCLA’s annual Capitol Leadership meeting held in Washington, D.C. September 30—October 3.

FCCLA members converged on Capitol Hill proudly wearing the official FCCLA red blazers to advocate for Family and Consumer Sciences education and funding of Career and Technical Education (CTE) by showing policymakers how their support for education impacts teens in preparing to be college- and career-ready. FCCLA members were encouraged to share their story when meeting with congressional leaders to promote the need to double the funding for CTE.

“The commitment, dedication, and passion Capitol Leadership youth advocates have for FCCLA, FCS, and CTE is inspiring,” said Sandy Spavone, Executive Director of FCCLA. “Through meeting with legislators, sharpening leadership skills, and advocating for important education policy issues, I am confident these youth leaders will take all that they have learned from Capitol Leadership as they go back to their respective home states to positively change our country.”

Capitol Leadership is the first of many FCCLA national gatherings held throughout the 2019-2020 school year. FCCLA members and advisers are also invited to attend FCCLA’s upcoming National Fall Conference in Dallas, TX, Industry Immersion in Chicago, IL, and the 2020 National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

Photo provided of the Arkansas State Officer Delegation with Makenna Goss (front row, far right) and Advisor Mindy Lyle representing her accomplishments.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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