My Pilgrimage to Capitol Hill
Donation protected
Greetings! My name is Lindsay Brill and I am a nursing student in my final semester of California State University, Fullerton's (CSUF) Accelerated BSN program.

I was recently selected, along with my best friend in the program, to be one of two students to represent my school at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) Health Policy Summit, in Washington D.C.

At this 3-day conference, taking place March 19-21, I will gain a deeper understanding of the federal policy process, as well as the intersections between nursing advocacy and our nation's legal system. After receiving guidance on how to have effective visits to Capitol Hill, I will be transported there, where I will speak with representatives, forging relationships that will be mutually beneficial as I advance in my nursing career. Lecturers at the conference will emphasize the importance of implementing research into practice, and focus groups will help me plan how to use my newly acquired knowlege and skills to benefit my community when I return home. For more information about this conference, check out their website by clicking here .
I am currently putting together an application for the AACN Policy Summit's Grassroots Student Ambassador Prize . This is the conference's special award, granted to two exceptional students who involve others to engage in grassroots advocacy. I am submitting a proposal for the feminine hygiene product donation drive I am currently organzing through CSUF's Nursing Student Association (NSA), benefitting a local Domestic Violence shelter, and raising awareness of the, often overlooked, public health issue of menstrual health within the populations of homeless and poverty stricken females. My work aims to bring California lawmaker's attention to the unfair "Luxury Tax" on feminie hygiene products, which should be considered health and safety materials, and should therefore be tax exempt.

During my last year and a half at CSUF, I have taken on many leadership roles. Last year, I served as my class representative at Undergraduate Program Committee meetings, where I advocated for student's rights and wishes when school policies were being created. This year, I am on the board of our NSA. As NSA Historian, I took the initiative to buid our club a new website , which went on to win the "Outstanding Website Award" at our state conference.



Even before starting nursing school, I was an activist. I worked as a doula and advocated for Evidence Based Birth options for California's women. I also marched in opposition to Prop 8, and have always fought for the equality of the LGBTQQI community. For almost 3 years, I volunteered at a domestic violence shelter, where I developed empowerment skills and became a certified domestic violence counsel advocate.

As you can see, activism and advocacy are passions of mine. I am devoted to ensuring evidence based healthcare is available to all citizens, with a special interest in underserved populations, the LGBTQ community, those with mental health/addiction issues, and women.
With equal opportunity, evidence based healthcare under attack in our country right now, many of us feel unsure of how to make our voices heard. This is a way for me to speak up on your behalf. If you are moved to help sponsor me in this endeavor, I implore you to reach out to me directly, so that we might have a conversation regarding the health policy issues that are important to you and your loved ones. I would like to be able to represent something bigger than myself in my fight to effect change.
I am humbling myself to ask for financial help so that I might acheive my goal of attending this conference. While it is an opportunity provided to me through my school, students are expected to cover all costs themselves. As a full-time nursing student, my budget is too tight for such demands. The inital price quote was $4,000.00, so I turned down my spot. However, my heart kept telling me to find a way! My travel companion and I got creative, used our negotiation skills, and were able to cut the cost in half, so I am seeking to raise $2,000.00. Please find my broken down budget analysis below:
Plane ticket: $550
Price of Conference: $400
Lodging: $250
Transportation around D.C.: $150
Food: $200
Gofundme's cut of the earnings: $160
A few good pantsuits: $190
Emergency/Unexpected costs fund: $100
____________________________________________________________
Total: $2000
I have my plane tickets on a price freeze until 02/03/17 at 8pm, so I need to make the $550 as soon as possible, to avoid added expense. I also need to pay my registration for the conference before 02/08/17, so that I can access the reqired pre-conference webinars. The rest of the budget needs to be covered before I leave for my trip on 03/18/17.
Any funds, such as those set aside for business attire and emergency funds, that go unused during my trip will be funnelled into my Grassroots Student Ambassador project, and will directly benefit the health of the women served by the Women's Transitional Living Center of Orange County.
I know many of my friends and family work hard just to stay afloat and support their own families, so I am beyond thankful for any money contributed to this cause. No donation is too small! Please spread the word by sharing this page with anyone and everyone who cares about the future of healthcare in this country!
Thank you so much for your support!
I was recently selected, along with my best friend in the program, to be one of two students to represent my school at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) Health Policy Summit, in Washington D.C.
At this 3-day conference, taking place March 19-21, I will gain a deeper understanding of the federal policy process, as well as the intersections between nursing advocacy and our nation's legal system. After receiving guidance on how to have effective visits to Capitol Hill, I will be transported there, where I will speak with representatives, forging relationships that will be mutually beneficial as I advance in my nursing career. Lecturers at the conference will emphasize the importance of implementing research into practice, and focus groups will help me plan how to use my newly acquired knowlege and skills to benefit my community when I return home. For more information about this conference, check out their website by clicking here .
I am currently putting together an application for the AACN Policy Summit's Grassroots Student Ambassador Prize . This is the conference's special award, granted to two exceptional students who involve others to engage in grassroots advocacy. I am submitting a proposal for the feminine hygiene product donation drive I am currently organzing through CSUF's Nursing Student Association (NSA), benefitting a local Domestic Violence shelter, and raising awareness of the, often overlooked, public health issue of menstrual health within the populations of homeless and poverty stricken females. My work aims to bring California lawmaker's attention to the unfair "Luxury Tax" on feminie hygiene products, which should be considered health and safety materials, and should therefore be tax exempt.
During my last year and a half at CSUF, I have taken on many leadership roles. Last year, I served as my class representative at Undergraduate Program Committee meetings, where I advocated for student's rights and wishes when school policies were being created. This year, I am on the board of our NSA. As NSA Historian, I took the initiative to buid our club a new website , which went on to win the "Outstanding Website Award" at our state conference.
Even before starting nursing school, I was an activist. I worked as a doula and advocated for Evidence Based Birth options for California's women. I also marched in opposition to Prop 8, and have always fought for the equality of the LGBTQQI community. For almost 3 years, I volunteered at a domestic violence shelter, where I developed empowerment skills and became a certified domestic violence counsel advocate.
As you can see, activism and advocacy are passions of mine. I am devoted to ensuring evidence based healthcare is available to all citizens, with a special interest in underserved populations, the LGBTQ community, those with mental health/addiction issues, and women.
With equal opportunity, evidence based healthcare under attack in our country right now, many of us feel unsure of how to make our voices heard. This is a way for me to speak up on your behalf. If you are moved to help sponsor me in this endeavor, I implore you to reach out to me directly, so that we might have a conversation regarding the health policy issues that are important to you and your loved ones. I would like to be able to represent something bigger than myself in my fight to effect change.
I am humbling myself to ask for financial help so that I might acheive my goal of attending this conference. While it is an opportunity provided to me through my school, students are expected to cover all costs themselves. As a full-time nursing student, my budget is too tight for such demands. The inital price quote was $4,000.00, so I turned down my spot. However, my heart kept telling me to find a way! My travel companion and I got creative, used our negotiation skills, and were able to cut the cost in half, so I am seeking to raise $2,000.00. Please find my broken down budget analysis below:
Plane ticket: $550
Price of Conference: $400
Lodging: $250
Transportation around D.C.: $150
Food: $200
Gofundme's cut of the earnings: $160
A few good pantsuits: $190
Emergency/Unexpected costs fund: $100
____________________________________________________________
Total: $2000
I have my plane tickets on a price freeze until 02/03/17 at 8pm, so I need to make the $550 as soon as possible, to avoid added expense. I also need to pay my registration for the conference before 02/08/17, so that I can access the reqired pre-conference webinars. The rest of the budget needs to be covered before I leave for my trip on 03/18/17.
Any funds, such as those set aside for business attire and emergency funds, that go unused during my trip will be funnelled into my Grassroots Student Ambassador project, and will directly benefit the health of the women served by the Women's Transitional Living Center of Orange County.
I know many of my friends and family work hard just to stay afloat and support their own families, so I am beyond thankful for any money contributed to this cause. No donation is too small! Please spread the word by sharing this page with anyone and everyone who cares about the future of healthcare in this country!
Thank you so much for your support!
Organizer
Lyndsay Brill
Organizer
Chino, CA