Advocating at the Nation's Capital for Workforce Pell

Last week, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. alongside Accelerate Colorado and the Aurora Economic Development Council to advocate on behalf of our students, our communities, and the future of workforce education.

In every conversation—with Senator Michael Bennet, Congressman Jason Crow, Senator John Hickenlooper, and Congressman Jeff Hurd—I emphasized the urgent need for Workforce Pell. This expansion is critical to ensuring that Career and Technical Education programs, like those offered at the Community College of Aurora, are fully accessible to learners seeking opportunity, mobility, and purpose.

As it stands, many of these short-term, high-impact programs do not qualify for Pell Grant funding. This limits access for the very students who would benefit most. Workforce Pell has the power to change that—and to strengthen our partnerships with business and industry in the process.

I’m grateful to our elected leaders for their time and attention—and especially proud to represent an institution like CCA that believes in bold advocacy, equitable access, and economic transformation through education.

Together, we can ensure that policy reflects the real promise of our people.