A new student initiative at Guilford College has opened a campus chapter of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), a national Quaker nonprofit focused on advocacy and federal policymaking.
FCNL was introduced to Guilford by a former member of Soy Un Líder (SUL), a campus program that ended due to budget restrictions. After researching advocacy groups, the student connected with FCNL’s young adult program director, laying the groundwork for the new chapter. Many of the leaders who once served on the SUL board are now part of FCNL’s executive team.
According to Guilford senior and FCNL member Elizabeth Martinez, SUL’s mission of empowering high school students resonates with FCNL’s emphasis on sharing personal stories and uplifting marginalized voices.
Guilford junior and FCNL member Max Gasca Arroyo said the transition from SUL to FCNL felt like a natural expansion of their work.
“We decided to move on from Soy Un Líder to FCNL because we were going to make a bigger impact and also have support from the organization to make more change,” Arroyo said.
Advocacy at the center
Guilford’s FCNL chapter is currently focused on outreach to government officials, aiming to make student perspectives heard on issues such as war, nuclear weapons, migration and climate change.
Guilford senior Stephanie Olvera Flores serves as the group’s lead liaison, acting as the main point of contact between Guilford’s chapter and FCNL’s national coordinators.
“We’re doing work that is important now more than ever,” Flores said.
Flores, who hopes to become an immigration attorney, said she values collaborating with peers who share her passion for justice.
“I really love the idea of working with like-minded people that are on the same wavelength about this,” she said.
Martinez said advocacy can feel intimidating, but FCNL helps students find confidence.
“Speaking up for yourself should not be as scary as some people might feel like it is.”
Arroyo emphasized that the chapter’s goal is to make policy more understandable and accessible to students.
“[We] emphasize to students that they can bridge the gap between constituents and representatives,” Arroyo said. “Your voice matters, and you don’t need to be an expert in policy to advocate for yourself and your community.”
Events and outreach on campus
This semester, FCNL has already held several events and plans more in the coming weeks.
In late October, the chapter hosted a lobbying workshop where students spoke directly with a staffer from U.S. Sen. Ted Budd. The group plans to schedule a similar meeting with U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis’s office to discuss the same migration bill.
On Nov. 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Founders, FCNL will host a postcard-writing event where students can write messages urging Congress to support humanitarian aid and refugee protections for Gaza. Students may either mail their cards to representatives or keep them for themselves.
“The goal is to make people feel heard and seen by representatives,” Martinez said.
Looking ahead
FCNL chapters across the country plan to gather in Washington, D.C. next semester for a national training and advocacy summit. The trip will include skill-building workshops on lobbying and policy engagement.
Guilford’s chapter hopes to grow both in size and impact. Students interested in joining or learning more can contact the chapter at [email protected] or reach out to board member Max Gasca Arroyo at [email protected].
“We have open arms and want to welcome everyone into our club,” Flores said.
FCNL welcomes you!
