By Whitney Haynes, Fairview High FCCLA
Students from Fairview High School returned from FCCLA’s Capitol Leadership in Washington, D.C., held from November 15–19, 2025. The five-day event brought together youth leaders from across the country for immersive training in advocacy, civic engagement, and leadership development.
Attending on behalf of the chapter were:
● Faith Freeman, 10th grade, Chapter Officer – Vice President of STAR EVENTS
● Lola Kate Haynes, 9th grade, Chapter Officer – Vice President of Community Service
● Whitney Haynes, adviser
At Capitol Leadership, students gained experience in:
● Advocacy & Government Relations, exploring how federal policies impact Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Education and Career & Technical Education (CTE) Funding.
● Strategic Planning, developing goals related to increasing student and community involvement. ● Professionalism & Communication, through hands-on activities such as leadership training and career panels.
● Meeting with Legislators, advocating for CTE and Carl Perkins Federal funding with their elected officials, including Senator Katie Britt, Senator Tommy Tuberville, staff of Rep. Barry Moore, and staff of Rep. Terry Sewell. 
“This experience helped me become more confident in my ability to lead and speak up for what I care about. I’m so grateful to be part of an organization that allows me so many opportunities to truly grow and to be part of something bigger than myself,” said Faith Freeman, a 10th student at Fairview High School. “I now understand how advocacy can create real change in our schools and communities.”
In addition to their advocacy efforts, these students visited national landmarks such as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Library of Congress. They connected with peers from 40+ states, exchanged ideas on community service and promotion of CTE programs. The students plan to bring change back to the community of Fairview through chapter leadership and promotion of chapter projects and activities.