For the first time in history, Associated Students of Diablo Valley College sent members to the National Students Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C. to advocate for issues affecting college students.

“The significance of this trip is the fact that it is our first legislative presence on the federal level. We have been increasingly aware of the imperative need to make our voices heard on not only the state level but also the national level so that we can make a true and noticeable difference, as we are always committed to do,” said ASDVC President Kevin Zhang.

ASDVC worked with the Director of Communications and Government Relations from Contra Costa Community College District, Tim Leong, to come up with four key issues to address at the conference.

The four finalized issues were: a solution for DACA, the extension of Pell Grants, campus safety and increasing mental health services.

The ASDVC students reached out to California representatives including Rep. Mark DeSaulnier about all four issues and textbook costs as well.

“During these visits, the student advocates discussed the importance of sustaining and increasing the Pell Grant and making it available year-round and reauthorizing the law that governs all student aid which has been delayed for more than four years,” according to the press release written by Zhang and Vice President Arvito Soebiakno.

ASDVC board member Sophia Bayatmakoo, who is half-Mexican and lived in Mexico for part of her life, spoke to the congressmen and their staff about DACA.

“It was a great opportunity to defend the Mexican people that live here,” said Bayatmakoo.

Trey Dao, who chairs DVC’s Food Pantry, said they were able to relay specific examples of mental health issues affecting DVC students to the congressmen.

Zhang says the representatives they spoke with acknowledged their research and expressed support for all of the issues but they received especially positive feedback on the issue of gun violence.

ASDVC was able to talk to Rep. Mike Thompson, who is currently serving as the chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to Zhang, Thompson’s staff said that “they will continue to push comprehensive gun control legislation in the House and Senate and advocate for responsive communication system on campus.”

“Being able to directly communicate with our representatives and advocate for what students need at our college, that was the most rewarding part,” said Dao.

Bayatmakoo says the opportunity to speak with the congressmen in their offices was very unique.

Zhang hopes to see the next executive board put this event on their agenda for next year.