Here we are at Washington D.C., my most anticipated day for this whole service trip. Amidst the news of Bucknell closing we go into the chaos that is Capitol Hill. From the frying pan into the fire as they say. We wake up early, zoom through preparing ourselves for presentation and the frustration of our roommate waking up early. Then to the bus, the train station and finally D.C.! We arrive at the building and my heart kinda stutters but then picks up, a common theme for the day. We’re put into this conference room with a representative of Bread for the World, Jacob, who walks us through the organization’s objectives. With a little foreground of what we’re advocating for, a pinky nail of the U.S.’s GDP ($50 Million), Chonya Johnson walks in.
Chonya walks in with an air of confidence, black wrap dress, stance firm with an upright head. With good cause, she’s had 20 years of experience in public policy. Bouncing from position to position every 2 to 5 years, a woman who knows the ins and outs of Capitol Hill and was able to sum how we should conduct our phone call with our constituents in 5 minutes:
- Keep it Simple (KIS)
- Have Your Asks
- Share Stories not Facts and Figures
We’re then given pause to figure out what to say to the representatives, mine was Bob Casey, with our groups and lunch. Advocating for Hunger Free Summer for Kids (S-9-18) and EBT Summer. S-19-18 asks for funding for nutritious meals during the summer and EBT an increase of $50 million for families to spend on food from the budget.
But the reality of lobbying came not a moment after we left that conference room. We didn’t know if our constituent would be accessible that day or tomorrow. The whole of Congress was shutting down due to COVID-19, just like Bucknell was, we couldn’t go to The Hill. Instead we wandered to a larger conference room. We take pause for a bit Joss, Jasmine, Natalie and I for sustenance, me especially for a smoothie. We end up in NASA’s headquarters at a buffet, I fangirl while the security and artist and the lobby looked on in amusement. The hunt for a smoothie is postponed due to the need for practicing our scripts. A team members is changed, the dynamic did as well. The development of our script was half introductions and purpose the other was “you know what to say just say it”. Before I know our call goes from tomorrow or today at 1:30 to 1, the call comes our script is said, the staff representing Bob Casey converses with us, we thank her profusely and then we’re done. We looked to Kurt for guidance and he assures us that it was as good as is to be expected, considering he is a co-sponsor of the asks were done on the phone. I take a break, step out of all the previous blood elevation and allow my self to scream in joy in the bathroom. I think “I actually made some change”, but really it was more of doubling down on a stance already supported by Casey. For him to be reminded of his support on these pieces of legislation.
Bayode, Craig and I, the group that talked to Casey, head out into D.C. my search for a smoothie is continued but first museums. We take time to enjoy the relative hustle of the city, which is dampened by The Virus, a welcome reprieve from the gloom of Lewisburg. We arrive outside the Hishhorn and Bayode eats a questionable chili hot dog from an overpriced food truck. We then head in; the exhibits are as mind blowing and thought provoking as a modern is expected to be. Craig particularly fanboyed hard for the Marcel DuChamp exhibit, Bayode for the African Art, with several clout pictures taken. It was really nice to take your friends to a place you enjoy and for them to enjoy it too. Next, we headed to the African Art Museum, despite Bayode wanting to nap due to the high stress day and the chili hot dog. When we walked in, he forgets his tiredness as he recognized Nigerian music, he rushed to the source of the sound near display cases of African artifacts from Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana. The levels descend with creations of perspectives from Africa. I really liked the feminist exhibit with sculptures and clothing. There was also an exhibit on African heroes and tributes of art towards them. People such as the Queen of Sheba, Nelson Mandela, Reverend Tutu, Winnie Mandela – just to name a few.
Soon after we headed to the African American History and Culture Museum, again relatively unpopulated due to The Virus. We spent a good bit of time in the first floor, I got separated from the group in that level. There was so much history combed through – from the racialization of Africans, to the transition of enslavement being short term to a lifelong and generational enforcement. Then pivotal figures and periods for African, African-Americans and contributors to the freedom and continued fight for equality of blacks in America. One art exhibit in particular caught my eye:
By the time I emerged I found myself alone until I found Kurt, then I pursued, the next few floors until closing, the reflection court was particularly needed.
Soon, the museum started to close and it was time to meet up with my friend to get dinner. However, plans got rearranged and we weren’t able to meet. So, I tried to head to the meet up spot where some of the other members of the group were eating. But I got mixed up with the directions and wi-fi is spotty in those D.C. subways. Being Lost In D.C. however was temporary, I was able to ask some subway goers and they kindly pointed me to the right direction. I meet up with Jen and Sofia, on the way to the meet up and I was finally able to relax!
Reflecting on the day on our way back it was really nice to see the culmination of combatting food insecurity from grass roots at the Black Security Food Network to the policy making level that we experienced with Bread for the World. It continually makes me remember how addressing food insecurity is being addressed in multiple ways and areas. That there is no one approach to address such a systemic problem.