Students from John Carroll University joined peers from across the country this spring in bringing Ohio voices to the national stage, traveling to Washington, D.C. for the annual Advocacy Day on Tuesday, April 21, hosted by Jesuit Refugee Service USA. The trip, part of the university’s broader 250 Project highlighting student impact, underscored how local communities are engaging with one of the most pressing global issues of the moment: the growing displacement of people worldwide.
More than 500 advocates participated in this year’s event, with over 200 traveling to Capitol Hill to meet directly with congressional offices. Representing more than 120 House districts, the group included students, faith leaders, former refugees and policy professionals. Among them were students from Ohio, who brought a distinctly regional perspective to conversations often shaped by national rhetoric.
For Savanna Kerr ’27, the experience was both personal and powerful. “The most impactful part of this experience for me was having the opportunity to directly express to my representatives that people genuinely care about this issue,” she said. “Ohio is such a politically complex and often polarized state, so being able to speak up and emphasize that immigrant and refugee rights matter to constituents felt incredibly meaningful.” Kerr realized that advocacy is not abstract, but rooted in human connection and lived experience.
Throughout the day, students met with congressional staffers, engaging in conversations about funding humanitarian programs, protecting access to asylum and ensuring continued U.S. leadership in refugee resettlement. While many did not meet directly with elected officials, Kerr noted the significance of those interactions. “It was both surprising and reassuring to see how engaged and attentive the staff were,” she said. “They were genuinely interested in what we had to say.” In a political climate where immigration remains a highly visible and often divisive issue, these moments offered a sense of openness and possibility.
This year’s Advocacy Day also reflected growing momentum. Participation increased significantly from the previous year, with two-thirds more advocates joining in 2026. The expansion signals a rising interest, particularly among young people, in shaping policy conversations around displacement and human rights. Globally, the need is urgent. Jesuit Refugee Service operates in more than 50 countries, serving over one million displaced individuals annually through education, mental health support and emergency services.
For students at a Jesuit institution, the experience carries added meaning. Rooted in the mission of being “people for and with others,” opportunities like Advocacy Day allow students to translate values into action. Kerr, who participated for the second time, noted how returning under a different political administration deepened her understanding of how policy evolves. “It really gave me insight into how things actually operate on Capitol Hill,” she said.
As part of the 250 Project, the story of these students is not just about a single trip, but about a broader commitment to engagement, justice and leadership. By stepping into spaces often perceived as inaccessible, they are helping bridge the gap between local communities and national decision-making. In doing so, they demonstrate that even in a world marked by division, there remains space for dialogue, advocacy and change, one conversation at a time.
