Thats a wrap on SkillsUSA's WLTI 2024!
From touring our nations capital, to meeting with our congressional representatives, and having an incredible opportunity to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, this week included a great deal of growth for me as a student, leader, and advocate. I am proud to represent SkillsUSA MA as the State Vice President!
We began our advocacy visits in a meeting with Rep. Jim McGovern of the 2nd District of MA. We shared our stories as students in Career and Technical Education (CTE), and advocated for Perkins funding, vocational school building projects, as well as support for CTE within congress.
In our meeting at the U.S. Department of Labor the SkillsUSA Massachusetts State Officers met with Deputy Secretary Nikki McKinney, where we learned about the state of the workforce in our nation, and advocated for our training programs. Learning more about the skills gap, or in the eyes of the DoL, the good job shortage, proved to be an impactful moment of this trip.
Next, an impromptu meeting on the steps of the House of Representatives with Rep. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) gave us the opportunity to share the importance of CTE to building Americas workforce, and ensuring national security.
We ended off a busy day with a meeting in Senator Elizabeth Warren's office with her educational policy staff. In this meeting we shared stories as SkillsUSA members, and the importance of Perkins funding, as well as renewing and rebuilding vocational schools across the state of Massachusetts.
On another note, I am also proud to share that I have received the National Statesman Award from SkillsUSA for demonstrating knowledge of CTE and Communication skills.
This year, WLTI was an extremely impactful conference for me, I am thankful to serve SkillsUSA Massachusetts as a State Officer, and advocate for those in our state as their voice for better vocational education.