This September, the Workforce Team from the Coastal Bend joined the United Chamber’s annual advocacy trip to Washington, DC. Our delegation included leaders from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, Del Mar College, the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, and Education to Employment Partners.

Together, we walked the halls of Congress not only to introduce our organizations, but to share the story of how we collaborate at home. We carried with us the success stories of our students and workers, the progress of our postsecondary initiatives, and the local outcomes of our Opportunity Youth population.

We had the chance to thank Members of Congress and staff at the House Education & Workforce Committee for their support of Pell Grants and WIOA funding. Both programs are lifelines for our region. Pell Grants open doors to short-term, industry-recognized credentials at Del Mar College, while WIOA ensures resources remain targeted to young adults and workers who need training and wraparound supports. These investments mean more Coastal Bend residents can build careers, meet employer needs, and strengthen our local economy.

We also gained valuable insight into how our community can continue to contribute to the next round of funding decisions. Congressional staff encouraged us to share outcomes and highlight the measurable impact of these programs. This feedback reinforces the importance of documenting success stories.

In our conversations, we told the story of the Coastal Bend workforce: resilient, adaptable, and ready for the jobs of tomorrow. We highlighted the collaboration between our universities, colleges, workforce agencies, non-profits and employers has already created innovative pipelines into healthcare, energy, aviation, and technology.

For our region, these advocacy visits also meant something more: building relationships with the people shaping education and workforce policy at the national level. These connections ensure that when Congress debates WIOA reauthorization, Pell funding, or Opportunity Youth investments, the Coastal Bend has a voice at the table.

It was truly my privilege to serve as team captain of this talented group of education and workforce professionals. Each member brought unique expertise, and together we represented the Coastal Bend with pride. We left DC with new partnerships, renewed commitments, and a shared belief that when we align our voices, we can open doors of opportunity for every student and worker in our community.

For more information on our issue teams and priorities, visit unitedcorpuschristi.org/cb2dc.