GREENFIELD — Local leaders in education recently joined others from across the country in Washington D.C. to meet with state and federally elected officials to advocate for the region’s needs.

Greenfield Community College President Michelle Schutt and Judith Roberts, an alumni representative on GCC’s board of trustees, returned from the nation’s capital on Wednesday after several days spent hearing from White House officials. They included Senior Counselor to the Secretary for Technology and Economic Growth Zoë Baird, who talked about how community colleges have an opportunity for a new business model through workforce training and rapid certificate programs; Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who spoke to the importance of investing in students’ basic needs, including transportation; and finally, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who discussed how students can benefit from the expansion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“We met with Congressman (Jim) McGovern, and specifically, we talked about the need to increase the maximum Pell Grants, (the need to) allow Pell to support short-term training, the need to bolster job training and … technical education, and our need to invest in basic supports for students,” Schutt recalled. “We also talked to him a bit about providing a pathway to citizenship for our Dreamers.”

They also had the opportunity to meet remotely with U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren.

“It was amazing to be in the capital and understand how the whole process works and to really recognize how closely aligned we in Massachusetts are with our delegation,” Schutt said. “I didn’t feel like we were having to defend what we were asking for; they’re on the same page with us for what our students need.”

Schutt and Roberts, who also serves as executive director of an adult education program called The Literacy Project, were among nearly 40 people who traveled to D.C. from Massachusetts, according to Schutt.

“We have a statewide Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges,” she said. “It’s a group that coordinates many of our presidential efforts and they made it very clear it was important we represent well as this national juncture. … I felt it was vital that I really understand how things all come together.”

Roberts said the trip provided perspective on some of the “big picture” issues that also impact the local community college.

As an education advocate, Roberts enjoyed hearing from other college presidents from across the country who are facing similar successes and challenges as Greenfield.

“It’s important to advocate for our needs, which, in particular, include public transportation and the need to extend and increase the SNAP program,” Roberts said, noting she was grateful to know that local senators appear to be on the same page. “They believe that access to education should be universal and is a right for all.”

Locally, Schutt said, it would be especially great to see the Pell Grant applied to short-term training programs.

“We’re working hard here at GCC to enhance our workforce training opportunities, but there can always be more options, more pathways to great careers and family sustainable wages,” Schutt said. “The state does an amazing job supporting us but if there could be even more support for that, that would be fantastic.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

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