Day at the Capitol brings together leaders from across the state

Over 60 people from across the state of Georgia attended Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Day at the Capitol in Atlanta on Feb. 14, 2019.

Attendees included students, alumni, faculty, and staff from the University of Georgia (UGA) and Fort Valley State University (FVSU).

Attendees visited both the House and Senate chambers, met with family and consumer sciences stakeholders, and participated in tours of the Capitol hosted by UGA students involved in the Georgia Legislative Intern Program (GLIP).

Governor Brian Kemp joined the group to take a picture on the North Wing staircase, standing next to FACS dean Linda Kirk Fox, as well as Representative Houston Gaines and Senator Frank Ginn, two UGA alumni.

Prior to the group photo, Kemp signed a proclamation designating Feb. 14 as Family and Consumer Sciences Day in Georgia.

Nadia Gaines, a Consumer Economics major at UGA said, “One of my favorite parts of the day was observing the House and Senate sessions in action.” House and Senate discussions touched on various FACS-related topics, such as school safety, gun control policy reform, healthcare inequity, and racial diversity.

The group also had the opportunity to hear from a diverse panel after lunch in a room overlooking the Capitol.

This panel consisted of Shawn Conroy from the Consumer Protection Division, UGA Extension Agent Rhea Bentley, former Georgia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences President Karen Jones, former FACS Legislative Aide Lauren Smith, FVSU student MeaLenea Homer, Linsey Shockley from the Georgia Department of Education, and Chief Judge Kathy Palmer.

The panel was able to contribute unique perspectives in regards to the importance of a FACS background in Georgia legislature. Sarah Lindsay, a Human Development and Family Science major at UGA stated, “the panel was insightful due to their involvement in various facets of family and consumer sciences.”

Senator Bill Cowsert also visited with the group during the panel and promoted involvement in the FACS Legislative Aide program. Additionally, the group was able to network with three UGA students in GLIP.

“I really enjoyed learning about the connection between policy and my FACS degree,” Nadia said. Overall, the trip was an excellent display of the influence FACS students can have in state policy-making by studying a curriculum centered on healthy individuals, families, and communities.

To see a photo gallery from the event, visit our Flickr page here.

For more information on the FACS Legislative Aide program, click here.

Save the date for the 2020 event on Feb. 13.