Students advocate to NC lawmakers on public education funding
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Students from across North Carolina met face to face with state lawmakers on Tuesday, urging them to make greater investments in public education and listen to their experiences.
Dozens of students gathered at the state legislature, advocating for increased funding in areas such as mental health resources, transportation and teacher pay. They also called on lawmakers to pass a budget that prioritizes public education.
"I wanted to speak out because I definitely feel like I don't speak my mind a lot," said Estephany Gomez Antonio of Wilson.
Students said they came to Raleigh despite the start of summer break because they believe action is needed now.
I feel like a lot of people overlook the youth and just think, 'Oh, they're just kids, let them be kids.' But we do advocate for these things and we do want to see change.- Kaii Chatfield, student from Alamance County
"We're the future. Invest more in education, invest more in mental health, invest more specifically in restorative justice," said Aisosa Limon of Cary.
Some students described firsthand the effects of limited resources, including cuts affecting extracurricular programs.
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"The stuff that we used for our competition, it was like just stuff we already had and we didn't have a wide variety of what we needed," said Victoria Rodriguez of Wilson.
Mental health support emerged as a major concern among the group, with students highlighting gaps in services available to their peers.
"We need more mental health resources. I know people who are struggling with their mental health and they have almost basically nowhere to go," Limon said.
Students also pushed for greater support for ethnic minorities, alleging disparities in access and opportunity.
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"Please have empathy for everybody. We are all human. Just because I'm not the same skin color as you or I don't look like you doesn't make me any less American," said Angel Rodriguez Leon of Wilson.
Others emphasized that young people, while often overlooked, are actively engaged in shaping their futures.
"I feel like a lot of people overlook the youth and just think, 'Oh, they're just kids, let them be kids.' But we do advocate for these things and we do want to see change," said Kaii Chatfield, a student from Alamance County.
Students also called for improved protections for LGBTQ students and immigrant families and pointed to the role social media plays in affecting student mental health.
"I feel like we should be funded by the state. We shouldn't have to do it ourselves, but that just shows that we care about it, we care about the cause and that we are strong," Rodriguez Leon said.
As the legislative session continues, students said they hope their presence at the Capitol will lead to concrete changes.
