This semester, second-year PAF Katie Wynne and first-year PAF Marisa Cordon launched Campaigning for Change, a new cross-departmental initiative to teach participants about community organizing and advocacy. As part of the university’s programming for César Chavez Day, the initiative was designed to to commemorate the life and legacy of César Chavez by preparing students for actionable commitments to community advocacy. Katie and Marisa created the concept together, after discussing political management concepts and the farmworker’s movement in the 1960’s. Together, they worked with staff in both of their respective placements to coordinate outreach, two workshops, and a grant competition. Student teams were invited to identify, research, and design a community action plan around an issue in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area.
Participants learned about grassroots engagement, campaign design, and communications through workshops led by faculty from the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM). The Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service helped promote the event, and provided funding for the winning team. After two workshops with over 45 total participants - including interns from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, undergraduate and graduate students, and GW staff - teams competed for up to $500 from the Nashman Center to fund their community advocacy project. The winning team was announced on-stage at César Chavez Day and will be launching the Community Arts Collective, a university-wide group of students committed to exploring identity and community through the arts. With mentoring from GSPM and Nashman Center staff, the team will prepare a campaign plan and launch their project in the fall.