From Classroom to Capitol Hill: Advocacy Day as Experiential Learning

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Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Advocacy Day offers students, educators, parishioners, and community members a meaningful opportunity to put faith into action. Rooted in Jesuit values, Catholic social teaching, and the Ignatian tradition, Advocacy Day helps participants move from learning about forced displacement to advocating directly with members of Congress.

This article highlights how Advocacy Day serves as a model for experiential learning, civic engagement, and student formation. Through preparation, reflection, and direct advocacy, participants develop practical skills, deepen their understanding of refugee protection, and grow in confidence as advocates for people who have been forcibly displaced.

It was developed through a collaboration between Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and educators across Jesuit higher education, reflecting a shared commitment to integrating academic learning with advocacy and real-world engagement.

Authors:

• Clara Sayans, M.Ed. — Outreach Officer, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
• Richard Clark, Ph.D. — Professor, Sociology and Criminology Department, John Carroll University
• Audrey Hudgins, EdD — Clinical Professor, Seattle University
• Carey Kasten, Ph.D. — Professor of Spanish Language and Literature, Fordham University
• Julie Mughal — Associate Director for Humanitarian Action, Center for Social Impact, Fairfield University
• Jessica Trout, MSW — Assistant Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement, Saint Louis University

Together, these contributors bring expertise in sociology, education, language and culture, social work, and advocacy. Their collaboration highlights how Jesuit institutions across the United States are preparing students to engage thoughtfully in issues of forced displacement, migration, and global justice.

About the Article

This peer-informed research paper, authored by Clara Sayans, M.Ed., Outreach Officer at JRS/USA, and collaborators from Jesuit institutions, presents JRS/USA Advocacy Day as a best practice for integrating Jesuit values, experiential learning, civic engagement, and professional formation. The article describes how Advocacy Day has brought together students, educators, and parishioners since 2015 to advocate for refugee rights on Capitol Hill.

Why This Research Matters

As experiential education continues to gain recognition in academic settings, this article provides evidence-based insights into how advocacy can:

• Strengthen student learning through real-world engagement
• Build civic confidence and leadership skills
• Deepen understanding of migration, displacement, and human dignity
• Connect faith, ethics, and action in a structured learning model

The paper situates Advocacy Day within established experiential learning frameworks, reinforcing the importance of applied learning in developing socially engaged graduates.

You can view details from the 2026 JRS/USA Advocacy Day here.

Key Takeaways

• Advocacy Day is a model for experiential learning rooted in Jesuit education.
• Participants gain practical advocacy skills through preparation, training, and direct engagement with policymakers.
• The program helps students build civic confidence, leadership skills, empathy, and solidarity with forcibly displaced people.
• The model can be adapted by schools, universities, parishes, and other Jesuit institutions.
• The Advocacy Day Facilitator’s Guide supports both curricular and co-curricular participation.

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