Timberlake High School united with youth on Capitol Hill during Capitol leadership meeting
November 22, 2017
Red jackets filled the halls and lined the steps of the nation's Capitol when the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) brought over 250 of its student leaders and advisers to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to participate in FCCLA's Capitol leadership meeting.
Caitlyn Fargo from the Timberlake FCCLA participated in Capitol Leadership Conference, where members received training focusing on networking, professionalism, strategic planning and advocacy around key teen-centered current issues. Students advocated for family and consumer sciences and career and technical education by showing policymakers how their support for education impacts teens in preparing to be college- and career-ready. An important aspect of Capitol Leadership features today's teens meeting with their representatives to explain the importance of continued support for the Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act, which reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. Attendees also heard from panel experts focusing on four specific career pathways: Hospitality and Tourism, Visual Arts and Design, Human Services, and Education and Training. Teen leaders learned more about the opportunities within these career paths and family and consumer sciences education.
Featured guest speakers and instructors included Jeff Bland, chef with U.S. Foods; Lendrell Martin, technical designer with Ann Taylor; Elisa Kunz, volunteer and youth programs with the National Park Service; and Ashley Nelson, National FCCLA Outreach and Professional Development Manager. During her time in Washington, D.C., Fargo personally meet with Oklahoma congress members and had the opportunity to visit with them about all of the positive things happening throughout career and technical education, family and consumer sciences, and FCCLA .
This was a great opportunity to promote what the Timberlake FCCLA chapter has been doing in the representative's home state. Fargo participated in youth-led workshops on FCCLA's new national community service program. This peer education program guides students to develop, plan, carry out and evaluate projects to improve the quality of life in their communities. Through their projects, members experience character development and improve their critical and creative thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge and career preparation. Youth leaders learn more about themselves, others and the world so that they can make a difference now and in the future. While in D.C., students also had the opportunity for hands-on community service, where they helped preserve national park land by removing invasive plants in Rock Creek Park. Fargo is a junior at Timberlake High School and is currently serving on the Oklahoma FCCLA State Executive Council as the vice president of Star events.
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