Common Cause NC Democracy Fellows speak up for HBCUs in Congress

Nine students from seven historically black colleges and universities across North Carolina traveled to Washington, D.C., in April to speak up for HBCUs.

The trip was part of Common Cause NC’s annual “I Love My HBCU” journey to the nation’s capital, with CCNC Democracy Fellows lobbying members of Congress about Pell Grant funding, federal support for HBCUs and tuition reimbursement programs.

“It was an amazing experience, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience – especially for someone my age,” said Aleccia Sutton, a student at NC A&T State University.

In addition to speaking with members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, the students met with staff at the U.S. Department of Education dedicated to working with HBCUs as well as with George Washington University law professor Spencer Overton and Robert Primus, chief of staff for Rep. Michael Capuano.

“I think that our CCNC Democracy Fellows learned that people that look like them can be in these high positions in D.C. and still continue to fight for HBCUs,” said Dominique Sanders, college outreach coordinator with Common Cause NC. “I think they came away with a lot of hope.”