This press release originally appeared in Dallas County News.

WASHINGTON — Students and community advocates from Clive, Des Moines, Urbandale and Cedar Rapids traveled to Washington, D.C. from April 10-12 to participate in the Invest In Kids Advocacy Summit, hosted by Save the Children and Save the Children Action Network.

They joined advocates from across the country for this year’s Summit and urged their lawmakers to make key investments in kids’ programs. Specifically, Summit attendees lobbied for increased investments in early childhood education and global maternal and child health.

During the 2016 Advocacy Summit, 175 advocates – including 65 high school and college students – from 25 states participated in more than 100 meetings on Capitol Hill.

Summit participants engaged in dynamic workshops and heard from powerful change-leaders and elected officials, including Gayle Smith, Administrator of USAID and state Sen. Mike Johnston of Colo.