Advocacy Day
July 18-19, 2023
Washington, D.C.
Speak up for the value of theatre education! Join EdTA’s delegation of teachers and students for a day of training workshops followed by visits with federal legislators, where you’ll advocate for policies and funding that strengthen theatre education. Here’s your chance to tell Washington decision makers why every child deserves access to theatre taught by qualified educators as part of a well-rounded education.
Who Should Attend
Educators and students passionate about the value of theatre education who want to make their voices heard – all are welcome!
How to Participate
- Gather your school or community delegation if you have one (individuals welcome, too!).
- Register and book your hotel reservations.
- Review the training materials, fact sheets, and video provided after registration, and participate in a training webinar July 7.
- Schedule your meetings with your legislators’ offices.
- Come to Washington, D.C. Attend pre-meeting workshops, then go advocate!
- Join an informal sharing session to report learnings and wins.
Registration and Fees
- Students and EdTA adult members: $100
- Adult non-members: $130
Registration includes refreshments during the workshop day and networking reception, as well as transportation to and from Capitol Hill for your legislator visits.
Your registration also grants you membership in EdTA’s Advocacy Leadership Network, a grassroots group that promotes and advocates for K-12 theatre education to school board members, administrators, legislators, and other critical decision makers. Learn more about the ALN.
Note: For troupe directors to register students who aren’t inducted Thespians, log into your account and choose Import Roster from the left-side menu, then fill out the form and submit. These students will then appear in the system for you to register.
Contact members@schooltheatre.com if you need assistance with registration.
Hotel Information
Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
7920 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102
EdTA has secured a participant rate of $179/night. Attendees must stay on-site at the hotel. If attending with students, EdTA requires at least one adult chaperone per eight youth participants.
Event Schedule
Tuesday, July 18
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Registrant check-in and materials pickup
1 – 1:30 p.m. | Welcome and kickoff
- State of Theatre Education with Dr. Jennifer Katona, EdTA Executive Director
- Advocacy program overview with Jim Palmarini, Advocacy Day Director
1:45 – 2:45 p.m. & 3 – 4 p.m. | Training workshops (sessions repeat)
- Deep Dive: 2024 Federal Policy and Legislation — Tooshar Swain, Director of Public Policy, Americans for the Arts; and Amanda Karhuse, Assistant Executive Director, Advocacy and Public Policy, National Association for Music Education
- Making Your Case with Data — Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research, Americans for the Arts
- Rise Up, Advocate for Change (students only)
4:15 – 5:15 p.m. | Veteran Capitol Hill advocates panel
- Led by Advocacy Leadership Network representatives Zach Bates, Helen Duranleau-Brennan, Zach Schneider, and Lindsay Shields
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Plan and practice sessions
- Review your leave-behind and informational folder documents with Jim Palmarini (optional)
- Chapter groups/delegate teams plan and practice
7 – 8 p.m. | Networking Reception
- Reception will include light hors d’oeuvres. Dinner is on your own at the hotel or nearby restaurants within a 5-15-minute walk. The hotel shuttle stops at the Galleria Mall, with 20 dining options.
Wednesday, July 19
8 a.m. | Charter buses leave Hilton, drop off at Capitol Hill Visitors Center at 8:30 a.m.
9 a.m – 4:15 p.m. | Capitol Hill visits
5 p.m. | Charter buses depart from Capitol Hill Visitors Center, return to Hilton around 5:45 p.m.
6 – 7 p.m. | Sharing session
Get Ready for Advocacy Day
Prep Work
- Watch our Advocacy Day training video.
- Review the Theatre Facts and Student Skills sheet.
- Read the EdTA Federal Agenda Support sheet.
- Review these Five Steps to Setting Your Appointments.
- Find and research your senators and house representative.
- Reach out to your legislators' offices and request an appointment for July 19.
- Review our meeting tips to plan for your Advocacy Day visit.
Additional resources to help you prepare:
Leave-Behind Documents
You’ll receive a physical leave-behind folder with copies of these three documents when you check in at the event.
You may also want to print and add these optional support pages.
- NEA brief
- Arts Education Policy brief
- Arts Education: A Shared Endeavor
- Theatre Counts brochure (see also the online version)
- NEA Quick Facts
Please bring and add any state, district, or school support you wish to share with legislators.
Navigating Capitol Hill and D.C.
It’s helpful to get oriented to the layout of Capitol Hill so you can plan your routes between appointments. Download this printable map.
EdTA will provide charter bus transportation to and from the Capitol Hill Visitor Center as part of your Advocacy Day registration. In case you need alternate transportation, consult the metro map. The Hilton is just under 1 mile from the McLean and Tysons Corner metro stations; the Metro also goes to both Dulles and Reagan airports.
Questions?
Advocacy Day director Jim Palmarini is here to help!
Join us for a live webinar July 7 or contact us via email below.
