ACLU Hosts Over 900 High School Students for National Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C.
Students Learn from Attorneys, Policy Advocates, Organizers, and More on Fighting for Civil Rights and Liberties in Second Trump Administration
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today kicked off its largest ever National Advocacy Institute, hosting over 900 students from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico in the nation’s capital to learn from leading legal, organizing, and policy experts.
Now in its 11th year, the National Advocacy Institute is expanding to 10 days and implemented its largest ever Day of Action to prepare high school students to be the activists of the future amid the rapid erosion of civil rights and liberties under the Trump administration.
From July 20-29, participating students will engage directly with ACLU lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts through a mix of classroom discussions, lectures, site visits, and policy-focused activities. Through these experiences, students will explore the complexities of issue advocacy, legal strategy, and real-world political decision-making. They will return home equipped with practical advocacy tools, deeper knowledge, and lasting connections with other young changemakers.
Topics covered at the Institute include:
- Free Speech In and Out of School
- Utilizing Technology Responsibly to Effectuate Change
- How to Level Up Your Digital Advocacy
- Voting Rights Litigation Workshop
- From Campus to Capitol Hill: Campaign Strategy and Tactics that Accelerate Real Change
- Artificial Intelligence
- What Makes A School Safe?
The Institute will culminate in a Day of Action focused on defending immigrants’ rights in the face of brutal abuse by ICE agents, negligent treatment of people in detention, and the weaponization of the federal government against our immigrant neighbors. Through visits to congressional offices, including a leaflet drop, students will advocate for Congress to pass the Dream and Promise Act to provide dreamers with a pathway to citizenship.
For more information on the Institute or to request to attend one of the presentations, please contact media@aclu.org.