GUEST POST BY: Parnika K (FRC 649, MSET Fish) and Ananya P (FTC 25742,Tech Talons)

On October 27th, 15 FIRST robotics teams traveled to the California State Capitol to attend the third annual California Advocacy Leadership Conference (CALC) hosted by the Student Association for STEM Advocacy (SASA). At the conference, they learned key advocacy strategies that helped them champion increasing funding for STEM and robotics programs in California.

Robotics teams spent a day learning about effective advocacy techniques, the legislative process, two legislative requests, and experienced several inspiring keynote speeches. On the second day, attendees used their advocacy skills to conduct effective advocacy meetings with their representatives to expand STEM education for all students in California.

“It was spectacular having over 20 California teams, most of whom were new to advocacy, gain excitement and knowledge about the legislative process throughout the conference. We saw teams conduct their meetings at the Capitol with the utmost professionalism, sincerity and confidence of a robotics advocate.” -Manlin Z.,SET Cuttlefish (FTC 6165) member

At the 2024 CALC, students were empowered to advocate with:

• Inspiring keynote speeches about STEM and robotics
• Education about important legislature relating to STEM and robotics, like Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOP)
• Introduction to the California Budgeting Process
• Local Advocacy Panel with Q&A that introduced teams to legislative and education professionals in the region
• Information about our two legislative asks
• A practice meeting demonstrating effective advocacy skills
• Networking events connecting robotics teams to others in California
• Time to collaborate and practice speaking with other participating teams

ADVOCACY ASKS

Students advocated for important causes, asking constituents to push for increasing access to STEM education in California. There were primarily 2 pieces of legislation students wanted to further at CALC 2024:

1. STEM/Robotics Grant: Robotics students spoke with California legislators to help in establishing a grant program in order to encourage and help launch and sustain robotics teams across the state, based on successful models in other states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York. Its aim will be to increase access to practical STEM education, thereby allowing more students to acquire experience in robotics and develop skills that are very relevant for future careers in the field of STEM.
2. Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP): The second request was for the legislature to continue to fund ELOP at or above its current level of $4 billion. ELOP helps support K-8 after-school and summer learning opportunities, particularly in underserved and underrepresented communities. Expanding ELOP could mean that more funds can be directed toward STEM and robotics programs in areas that otherwise have limited availability of these opportunities, thus making STEM experiences in California more accessible and equitable.

After attending the conference, advocates were ready to put their skills into action and meet with their respective representatives. Thank you to all the legislative offices that met with our teams!

This year’s conference enabled the students to grasp the advocacy skills and use a stronger voice within the legislative arena. From intensive training sessions to meaningful discussions with legislators, participants took home knowledge on the power of informed, targeted advocacy. 

TAKEAWAYS

Here are the main takeaways showcasing the impactful experiences and lasting influence of CALC 2024!

1. For many of the participants, this conference was their first experience with advocacy. Teams learned about legislative processes and how state funding impacts STEM. They were excited to have their voices heard on issues they’re passionate about.
2. With the workshops, practice sessions, and listening to key speakers, the students really felt prepared to speak confidently with the legislators. Their preparation enabled them to effectively get across the importance of increasing accessibility in STEM throughout California.
3. It was clear, focused “asks”—the establishment of a dedicated robotics grant program and continued support for ELOP—that gave students well-defined goals that really resonated with representatives. Their advocacy stressed the importance of targeted funding in helping bridge the access gap in STEM, more so in underserved areas.
4. CALC brought teams from across the state together, allowing students to connect with one another, collaborate, and strengthen California’s robotics community. This camaraderie built a support network that will be able to drive future advocacy efforts and inspire more teams to join.
5. Robotics teams had a chance to lobby state legislators directly, focusing on their role as constituents and advocates. Their professionalism and clarity of requests made it clear what a positive force the students can be in shaping the future of STEM education.

California representatives were incredibly supportive of the mission. In addition to teaching essential skills applicable to the workforce, CALC empowered students to experience how advocating as a group can create a positive impact on STEM education. If you are interested in more information, please check out the SASA website: https://mysasa.org/.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Whether or not your team attended CALC this year, there’s an important next step that you can take to support STEM advocacy: invite your local government representatives to one of your upcoming FIRST competitions!

Nothing has a stronger impact than seeing the energy, skill, and dedication of FIRST teams in action. When your representative sees the excitement and professionalism at a FIRST event, it brings STEM advocacy to life in a way that meetings or reports simply can’t match. Here’s how you can make it happen:

1. Reach out to your representatives – Send a friendly invitation for them to attend a competition or showcase event. Highlight that it’s an opportunity for them to see firsthand the value of FIRST in developing future innovators and leaders.
2. Let us know if they plan to attend – If you receive confirmation that a representative is coming, please inform your Regional Director (RD) or Program Delivery Partner (PDP) so they can help support your visit and ensure the experience is impactful.

Let’s continue the momentum from CALC and make sure our leaders see the power of STEM education in action. Together, we can inspire change and expand opportunities for future generations!

Will you consider championing greater accessibility to STEM education at the 4th Annual California Advocacy Conference in Sacramento, coming up in fall 2025? Be part of advocacy that aims to inspire and equip the next generation of innovators. Together, let’s work toward creating opportunities for all students to thrive in STEM.

BIG THANKS!

The California Advocacy Leadership Conference ran smoothly due to the hard work of many dedicated individuals and robotics teams behind the scenes. A big thank you to SASA for driving STEM advocacy forward and making this event a success!

Thank you to the following FIRST teams who worked hard to organize this conference!

FRC 649, MSET Fish; FRC 1138, Eagle Engineering; FRC 1622, Team Spyder; FRC 1671, Buchanan Bird Brains; FRC 2485, Overclocked; FRC 3476, Code Orange; FTC 6165, MSET Cuttlefish; FTC 13356, Roboforce; FTC 20163, Metal Maniacs; FTC 23280, Team C.A.R.T; FTC 25742, TechTalons