Students Champion Policy Change At Sacramento

With policy briefs in hand, 26 Loyola students traveled to California’s State Capitol to participate in the 2025 Sacramento Laudato Si’ Advocacy Summit. Framed by Pope Francis’s encyclical and rooted in Catholic social teaching, the two-day event, from April 6 to 7, brought together over 400 students, educators, and faith leaders to advocate for legislation focused on climate resilience, water justice, and immigrant dignity.

Loyola students came prepared to support various bills, including AB 550, which addresses community wildfire hubs, and SB 48, which aims to protect immigrant families from ICE presence on school, daycare, and parish grounds. Meetings with assembly members and state senators, such as Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), allowed students to voice their support.

Emil Sol ‘18, CSJ Program Coordinator, noted a foundational principle: “A Jesuit institution can not exist without an aspect of advocacy.” CSJ Director Gabriela Gordillo-Banuelos added, “As we come back from advocacy, our mission continues in the form of educating our community.” Their reflections point to the commitment that Jesuit education demands, where action at the Capitol continues in the form of privately held reflection from student experiences; furthermore, students are called to actively share it through classroom discussions, peer-led workshops, and club initiatives.

The summit marked one of Loyola’s most significant student delegations for advocacy in recent memory. Before the Capitol meetings, students engaged in training, culminating in collaborative prayer and dialogue with peers from across California at the front steps of California’s Capitol. The blend of policy and spirituality offered a distinct model of civic engagement through a Jesuit lens.

Josiah Hankerson ‘25, a student from Verbum Dei High School, emphasized the importance of the community experience: “What I truly appreciate about the summit is the opportunity to have fun, learn from each other’s experiences, and share laughs. These moments create a sense of community power, and that’s what it’s all about.” He highlighted the lasting impact of advocacy, noting, “These shared experiences from our Verbum Dei Men bring a spirit of advocacy and service back to our campus, instilling curiosity and this spirit in the underclassmen and beyond, creating a domino effect.”

Loyola’s presence at the summit stands as a testament to the power of collective action rooted in faith. As the bills continue to make their way through the legislature, students remain committed to amplifying their message back home, in classrooms and communities alike.

Israel Ramirez ‘26 reflected, “Standing with 400 others who shared our deep commitment put into perspective just how meaningful and urgent it was to advocate for these policies.” Loyola hopes to deepen its commitment to advocacy and support a growing culture of student activism, where solidarity is not only studied in a classroom but also practiced in the real world to evoke change.