Registration Details
| Event Date | Event Time | Registration Deadline | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 9 - 10, 2027 | 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Register Today |
Advocacy Day 2027
Thanks to the generous support of our event sponsors, JB International and Shorelight, NAFSA will return to an in-person format for 2027! Participants will convene in Washington, D.C. on March 9 to prepare for their congressional meetings on Capitol Hill on March 10.
NAFSA Advocacy Day brings international educators from across the country to Washington to engage directly with policymakers and strengthen the collective voice of international education on Capitol Hill. With a new Congress about to take office, now is an especially important time to convey our stories and policy solutions to elected officials face-to-face.
First-time participants will forge new relationships with their elected officials and staff while learning how to effectively tell their story and frame the issues—whether communicating with lawmakers or on-campus leaders. Advocacy Day veterans can renew and deepen their existing relationships with congressional offices or get acquainted with new members of their delegation.
Advocacy Day Program
The format features: 1) exclusive on-demand training; 2) a half-day of live virtual training on the issues; 3) an in-person gathering to network and strategize with NAFSA policy experts and your peers; and 4) a full day of congressional meetings. New this year is a first-timers' virtual orientation on what to expect when advocating on Capitol Hill.
- First-Timers' What to Know Webinar -- February 23
- What to Expect in your Meetings
- Do's and Don'ts for Advocacy Success
- Introduction to the Advocacy Day App for Congressional Meetings
- Breakout sessions with Advocacy Day veterans
- Issue Briefing and Training Webinar -- March 2 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
- Washington State of Play
- Q and A with a Congressional Staffer
- Overview of NAFSA Congressional Asks with the Policy Experts
- Congressional Meeting Practice Sessions with Peers
- In-person Meeting Preparation / Capitol Hill Happy Hour -- March 9 from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET
- Materials packet pick up
- Meeting logistics review
- Meeting practice opportunity
- Advocate of the Year Announcement / Happy Hour on Capitol Hill
- Congressional Meetings -- March 10 from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
- Grab-and-go breakfast at the Friends Place on Capitol Hill
- Congressional meetings [9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.]
- Group debrief and planning for year-round advocacy (optional)