This course explores the role of public participation and civic engagement by exposing students and attendees to the function of lobbying U.S. Congressional members. Before the course, students and attendees will be polled regarding issues of individual passion, from environmental protection, to localized community issues. We will use a few days in D.C. to prepare prior to "hitting the Hill". During these seminars we will develop personal narratives and speaking points for engaging with state and federal representatives. We will then visit Senators as well as members of the House of Representatives to lobby them for our chosen issues.