Washington D.C.–During the week of July 21, the California DECA state officer team traveled to the nation’s capital and met with California legislators. In these meetings, California DECA’s six state officers discussed the vital role DECA and Career and Technical Education play in preparing American’s workforce for 21st-Century jobs. These student leaders also encouraged their Congressional representatives to join DECA’s Congressional Advisory Board.
California DECA met with the following congressional members:
- Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-15)
- Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (CA-48)
- Crystal Martinez: Legislative aid to Senator Dianne Feinstein
- Patrick Scandling: Legislative aid to Senator Barbara Boxer
- Dr. Edwin Tan: District Deputy Director to Congressman Mike Honda (CA-17)
- Katelynn Anderson: Legislative aid to Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-15)
- Julia Stienberger: Legislative aid to Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41)
In addition to meeting with legislators, California DECA’s state officers attended DECA’s Emerging Leader Summit, where they engaged in leadership training along side DECA members from across the nation. This summit provided key insights into effective leadership strategies and served as a valuable opportunity to network with fellow DECA leaders. California DECA state officers heard from guest speakers from various departments throughout the Capitol. They also visited key parts of the Capitol building, including Speaker John Boehner’s ceremonial office and the Senate and House galleries.
Meeting with legislators and attending DECA’s Emerging Leader Summit served as great learning experiences, and the California DECA’s state officers are excited to apply what they learned in the upcoming year.
