After a successful trip to Sacramento for ENACT Day last year, our YAC members were excited to have another opportunity to meet with San Diego representatives and advocate for legislation to make our communities healthier places to live. Four of our YAC members: Miguel, Sahra, Mussa, and Robert, were invited to represent their senate districts. The day kicked off with a delicious healthy breakfast at St. John’s Lutheran Church and an engaging training to develop policy advocacy skills. Our YAC members had the opportunity to meet and network with other community members and advocates from all over California and hear about the health equity issues that were being addressed in those communities. After reviewing the bills that would be discussed when meeting with representatives and going over their main talking points, our youth were ready to set out for the capitol building!
Drawing on the skills they had learned in the morning training session, our YAC members met with several different San Diego representatives and discussed the importance of investing in legislation that supports and promotes healthy eating and physical activity. Some topics that they went over included improving access to nutritious school meals, reducing college student hunger, and requiring safe, complete streets. The students also learned more about what goes on in the capitol building and were able to sit in on sessions in both the Assembly and Senate chambers.
Finally, after a long, successful day, our amazing students were ready to head home!
