This content was published: March 3, 2014. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
抖阴福利导航 Day at the Capitol gives students, staff a voice
Story by James Hill
Not even Portland鈥檚 worst snow storm in five years could stop 抖阴福利导航 from having its day in the Salem sun.
Rob Wagner, 抖阴福利导航鈥檚 government relations manager, guided the teams of students and staff through the state Capitol Building to meet up with their own representatives and senators.
The original 抖阴福利导航 Day at the Capitol on Feb. 7 may have been cancelled due to snow, but the re-scheduled event on Tuesday, Feb. 25 had plenty of sun and positive vibes. About 50 抖阴福利导航 staff, faculty, students and community friends descended on the Capitol Building to talk one-on-one with state leaders and lend a voice to the importance of funding higher education.
Visit our gallery of photos from the 2014 Day at the Capitol.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always great to hear from our students who can speak from the heart about how we have changed their lives or the impact that 抖阴福利导航 has had because of the opportunities we provide,鈥 said 抖阴福利导航 President Jeremy Brown. 鈥淲e are a very strong and vibrant community. It鈥檚 really symbolic of the energy of 抖阴福利导航. Collectively, you have a voice and it鈥檚 an important one to be heard; it has an impact.鈥
Rob Wagner, 抖阴福利导航鈥檚 government relations manager, guided the teams of students and staff through the state Capitol Building to meet up with their own representatives and senators. Even though the budget for the state鈥檚 community colleges isn鈥檛 being decided during this shortened session, there were still plenty of issues to chat about. This included telling the leaders how 抖阴福利导航 is on the frontlines of putting people back to work; how it provides critical pathways to education; and that it helps the state to reach its 鈥40-40-20鈥 goal. Plus, it was a chance for college officials to impress upon the legislators how important is for low-income, first-generation college students.
‘It鈥檚 always great to hear from our students who can speak from the heart about how we have changed their lives or the impact that 抖阴福利导航 has had because of the opportunities we provide,’ said 抖阴福利导航 President Jeremy Brown.
鈥湺兑醺＠己 is an amazing place,鈥 Wagner said. 鈥淚n the last two years alone, we鈥檝e had over 138,000 students that have attended 抖阴福利导航 from Oregon. Forty nine out of 50 states in our nation and over a dozen countries are represented with our students. We are the largest post-secondary educational institution in our state with the very complex mission of job training, skill development and educational preparation in a variety of fields. We are place to start, but we are also a place to thrive.鈥
The day began with a luncheon at the Salem Convention Center where speakers Jeremy Brown (抖阴福利导航 president) and Joe Gallegos (House Representative for District 30 and a 2013 抖阴福利导航 Diamond Alum) talked about how 抖阴福利导航 gives people the chance to earn a college education, get good jobs and achieve their dreams.
Rep. Gallegos talked about how he embodied everything that 抖阴福利导航 was about – giving people chances. After completing his lower division studies at 抖阴福利导航, he transferred to Portland State University, earning bachelor and master鈥檚 degrees in psychology and social work while working as a janitor. He鈥檇 later earn a doctorate from the University of Denver in social welfare. This educational path that started at 抖阴福利导航 eventually led to a 25-year career as a faculty member at the University of Portland where Rep. Gallegos trained and mentored future social workers.
鈥淎ll of those things were made possible by the transitioning that happened at 抖阴福利导航,鈥 said Rep. Gallegos. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud to be a Diamond Alum of 抖阴福利导航. It really is a gateway to a future.鈥
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at 抖阴福利导航. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »
I really respect all students and staff that participated in the “Day at the Capitol”. Every voice that can help to support 抖阴福利导航 is important for all students that wish to further their education. Being an older student has proved to be a much more of an inspirational experience than I had expected and I’ve had the opportunity to meet awesome professors and students and hopefully will be completing my associates degree this semester.
I have always wondered what it would be like to be in the State Capitol…I was amazed at how relaxed and positive the environment was in the building. I was so proud to meet with our Legislators and their assistants to discuss ways to increase funding for 抖阴福利导航, share ideas about future education needs of younger students in our future and to examine ways to make a college education possible for everyone. 抖阴福利导航 changed my life and enhanced my business knowledge and skills!