Advocacy 101

Want to be a better advocate for your afterschool program? Join the Utah Afterschool Network, Senator Luz Escamilla, and Representative Angela Romero to talk about how you can advocate for your programs and educate policymakers about the important impacts of out-of-school programs during the legislative session and throughout the year.

We'll be discussing engagement strategies, how you can find and contact your representatives, and sharing resources and tools to empower you, your staff, and the youth and families you serve.

We'll be offering this as a virtual training opportunity to make sure it is accessible for programs throughout the state. 

Register Today

Interested in supporting and planning advocacy initiatives like this? Join the Utah Afterschool Network Policy Committee today!

Fill out the policy committee interest form. 

 Senator Luz Escamilla:

On November 4, 2008, Senator Luz Escamilla was elected to the Utah State Senate to represent Senate District 1, becoming the first Latina elected in the Utah State Senate and the first immigrant elected in the Utah State Legislature. She is serving her fourth term in the Senate after being reelected in 2012, 2016, and 2020.  Senator Escamilla serves in the Senate leadership team as the Senate Minority Whip.

Senator Luz Escamilla received a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah. She has vast experience as a business and political consultant, focusing on strategy and government relations for businesses and nonprofits. In 2005, she was appointed by Governor Jon Huntsman as the first Director for the State Office of Ethnic Affairs. In this position, she oversaw the directors of Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino and Pacific Islander Affairs. She worked as Vice President for Zions Bank in the Community Development Group, representing Zions Bank in community and business relationships across the state of Utah and Idaho. At Zions Bank she worked as Director for the Business Resource Center, as well as the Hispanic/Latino Market Manager.

In 2020, Senator Escamilla was the Chief Operations Officer at MiCARE Network, a Utah-based healthcare startup focused on innovative solutions to care management. Currently, she is the co-founder and managing partner of ESCATEC Solutions, which focuses on improving customer experiences for different organizations and entities.

Luz lives on the west side of Salt Lake City with her husband, Juan Carlos, and their children.

 Representative Angela Romero:

Angela Romero has always had a passion to serve. Growing up in Tooele, Utah, Angela was raised by her grandparents. Their dedication to raising a hard-working, well-educated woman inspired her to pursue college, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah. In 2012, she won the election to represent House District 26 at the Utah Legislature. From 2016-2020, she was elected by her colleagues to serve as the House Democratic Assistant Whip. Angela was recently elected by her colleagues from across the country to serve as the President-Elect of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Her upbringing, paired with her education, gives Angela a unique perspective on the needs of Utah’s diverse communities.

Angela works on legislation that provides a voice for sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking survivors. Her work includes sponsoring the Prison Rape Elimination Act and securing 3.6 million dollars for the Statewide Sexual Assault and Interpersonal Violence Prevention Program. Angela also sponsored legislation creating the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force in Utah which she now co-chairs with Senator Dave Hinkins. She was also the chief sponsor of HB175 which allows individuals to petition the court to include pets on a personal protective order or stalking injunction, granting them a legal layer of protection from abusers.  Outside of her work on sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking prevention, Angela was instrumental in passing important police reform legislation. During the 2021 session, she successfully sponsored Peace Officer Training Amendments, Use of Force Reporting Requirements, and Law Enforcement Weapons Use. These bills stemmed from meetings between BIPOC community leaders, legislators, and law enforcement.

When not fulfilling her legislative duties, Angela works for Salt Lake City Corporation. She oversees community programs and initiatives in the Division of Youth and Family Services, including supervising the YouthCity Government and My Brother’s Keeper Programs. Angela is committed to public service and has been a city employee for over 21 years.