Local Student Heading to Washington, DC to Lobby for Legislative Action to End Bullying in Schools
Matthew Shankles has been selected by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to attend its fifth annual Safe Schools Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC from March 24-27, 2012. Matthew is a safe schools advocate from Cedar Rapids who will join more than forty other students and adults from across the country at this national event.
Matthew was selected to attend the Safe Schools Advocacy Summit for his involvement with safe schools advocacy and related work. He is a student at Linn-Mar, where he serves as president of his school’s gay-straight alliance (GSA). He also volunteers regularly at events at his high school.
Attendees will participate in workshops where they will learn about federal legislation, advocacy and organizing skills, and strategies to continue their work on advocating for safe schools at the local, state and federal levels. Participants will also meet with their elected officials on Capitol Hill about the importance of safe schools issues.
On the evening of March 26, participants will join elected officials and community leaders at a dessert reception held in the Rayburn House Office Building. The reception will feature remarks from GLSEN Executive Director Dr. Eliza Byard, Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Congressman Richard Hanna (R-NY).
Following the summit, GLSEN will be working with Matthew throughout the year to support safe schools efforts locally and nationally.
