Lobbying is the political process of attempting to influence politicians on actions, policies, and decisions. People lobby through visiting legislative offices and meeting politicians to have a one-and-one discussion with them about issues that they are passionate about. With Montgomery County’s close proximity to Washington D.C, many Montgomery County students engage in lobbying every year. From raising issues about gun violence to fighting for climate justice, lobbyists are constantly fighting for what they believe is right. But how effective is student lobbying really?
Although student lobbying may not directly influence change right off the bat, lobbying does have an empowering effect. The more students lobby about certain issues, the more politicians come to recognize what the current youth is passionate about. Additionally, rather than getting paid by specific organizations and corporations, student lobbyists are advocating from the heart. They are speaking about issues that directly affect them and their futures, which is what can set them apart from paid lobbyists.
Many students in Montgomery County have the opportunity to lobby through student organizations such as Montgomery County Students for Change (MoCo for Change) and the Montgomery County Student Regional Government Association (MCR-SGA). MoCo for Change members have lobbied for gun violence prevention, voter promotion, desegregating schools, and more. Additionally, MCR-SGA hosts a yearly Advocacy Day, where students take buses to Washington D.C. to directly speak with Congressional members about issues they are passionate about.
This year, lobbying has been moved to a virtual setting as students have joined Zoom calls with politicians. For example, this year’s MCR-SGA advocacy was held online and included a variety of students from across the country. Whether it be speaking with Montgomery County Board of Education officials or Congressional members in Washington D.C, Montgomery County students are consistently engaging in conversations to not only improve the community, but improve the country.
Article written by Natalie Weger of Richard Montgomery High School
Photo courtesy of Madeleine Ball under a Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0 license
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