Public Service

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to combat poverty and it was his signature piece of legislation while in office. By signing the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, Johnson created the first of eight TRiO programs, Upward Bound, and increasing access to higher education was one of many solutions Johnson promoted to solve poverty. With the passing of the Higher Education Amendments in 1968, Student Support Services became the third TRiO program to be created.  Therefore, TRIO SSS was created by policy and is meant to benefit the American society. Due to the program's history, my organization demonstrates public service. 

The organization demonstrates public service by also being engaged with Congress by advocating for TRIO programs to continue when they are at risk of losing funds or no longer existing. For example, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for a higher education issue when I was a participant of the Student Public Policy Forum. One of the representatives I met with was Rep. Matt Salmon (R). Before we met with him, a lady holding a TRIO folder was leaving his office. I saw her later in the day and I asked if she worked for TRIO. She said yes and told me she was visiting various representatives and asking them to not decrease funds for TRIO because they serve so many students who need these programs. I think life is funny because I am interning at ASU TRIO Downtown-SSS and that experience in D.C. taught me more about TRIO's participation in the political process. Since I am in Arizona, I never would have learned about that aspect of TRIO here.