Empower Future Social Workers: Help USF Social Work Society Students Attend LEAD

What is LEAD and Why Does It Matter

The Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) is an unparalleled opportunity for social work students to engage in the legislative process and gain the tools necessary for impactful macro social work practice. LEAD is more than just a field trip—it is a multi-day learning experience at the state capital in Tallahassee, where future social workers learn how policies are shaped, participate in legislative sessions, meet with legislators, and network with social workers and students from universities across the state.

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As the President of the Social Work Society at USF, I am proud to lead a group of passionate students dedicated to making a difference. However, one of the greatest barriers preventing our members from attending LEAD is the financial burden.

As undergraduate and graduate social work students, we are deeply committed to promoting social justice. LEAD provides us with the opportunity to meet with legislators, understand policy-making, and network with professionals who are actively working toward systemic change. Attending LEAD is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will help us grow as future social workers and ensure we are well-prepared to advocate for those we serve.

The Power of Your Donation

Many of our members come from diverse backgrounds, including first-generation students, individuals from minority and marginalized groups, and students with disabilities—all eager to use their experiences and skills to create meaningful change through social work and macro social work practices. Your generous donation can make all the difference in making this invaluable experience accessible to students who might otherwise not have the means to attend.

Your contribution will help cover essential costs such as:

• Transportation: Covering gas expenses as we carpool from USF to Tallahassee.

• Lodging: Covering hotel room costs (four students per room for cost efficiency).

• Meals: Students will be responsible for their own meals from Sunday through Wednesday evening.

By donating, you are directly investing in the future of social work. You are empowering students to gain hands-on experience in legislative advocacy, which will allow them to return to their communities with the knowledge and skills needed to drive meaningful change.

Amplify Marginalized Voices

Social work is rooted in advocacy and service, particularly for historically underrepresented communities. Attending LEAD ensures that our students can learn how to effectively advocate for marginalized voices and bring critical issues—such as mental health access, child welfare, healthcare equity, and social justice—to the forefront of legislative discussions.

Your support will help diversify the voices present at LEAD and ensure that students from various backgrounds have a seat at the table. This is a chance to make a real impact by investing in the future leaders of social justice reform.

Fundraising Goal

My ambitious goal for the Social Work Society is to raise $5,000 to support USF social work students in attending the Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD). At a cost of $250 per student, this funding would allow the 20 already registered students to attend free of charge, removing financial barriers to this invaluable experience. However, with adequate funding, USF has the opportunity to send up to 50 students to Tallahassee. Please consider donating or sponsoring a student to help make this opportunity accessible to more future social workers.

How You Can Help

Every dollar counts! No donation is too small, and every contribution goes directly toward funding students’ participation in this transformative experience. You can make a difference by:

• Making a donation to our fundraising campaign

• Sharing this campaign with your network to spread awareness

(If you own a business and would like to contribute materials rather than a monetary donation, we would love to provide students with additional resources such as business cards or portfolios with legal pad holders—though this is just the cherry on top!)

If you would like to sponsor a student with a specific focus, background, or mission, please feel free to reach out to me, the president of the Social Work Society, at VLeto1@usf.edu. I want to ensure that your generous support is allocated in alignment with your intended impact.

Thank you for believing in the power of advocacy and supporting future social workers in their journey to create systemic change. Together, we can build a more just and equitable society!