Every other March, clinical professor Barbara Anderson gets fired up as she coordinates Student Day at the Legislature. On that day, social work students from all over Texas come to Austin, learn how the legislative process works and how to advocate for issues they care about. Then they rally on the Capitol steps and deliver one-minute speeches. Afterwards, students with appointments visit legislators and their staff.
“It’s just a blast!” Anderson says. “Students experience that is doable to advocate for and talk to legislators about something they care about—foster care, closing private prisons, mental health, whatever might be. It’s also empowering for students from all over Texas to connect with each other and find their common voice as social workers.”