July 26, 2018 500 AM
PRESIDIO, WASHINGTON, DC – A Presidio High School student attended the American Civil Liberties Union annual Summer Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C. for rising junior and senior high school students.
Alejandrina Elms of Presidio this week joined 1,000 students — the largest class ever — from every state in the country for the opportunity to engage with lawyers and political activists on social justice, to build expertise and knowledge in advocacy, to participate in debates, and to develop successful media and social networking strategies, while observing policy development on Capitol Hill.
The institute gives students the tools they need to engage in their communities on issues around civil liberties and civil rights. Participating students will receive first-hand learning experience from lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts dedicated to defending these constitutional rights.
Students engaged in classroom sessions, lectures, daily debates, workshops, and meetings with elected officials and congressional staff. The week culminated with a lobby day on Capitol Hill on July 24, where these young activists will be able to speak with their members of Congress about the family separation crisis.
They will then join the entire class for a rally in front of the Capitol to tell Congress #FamiliesBelongTogether.
This year’s Summer Institute speakers include, Anthony Romero, ACLU Executive Director; Faiz Shakir, ACLU National Political Director; David Cole, ACLU National Legal Director; Cecillia Wang, ACLU Deputy Legal Director; Jeff Robinson, ACLU Deputy Legal Director; and Edward Snowden, former CIA employee and well-known illegal government activity whistleblower.
