Letter from the Executive Director: Day at the Capitol
Anytime I am interviewed, a question that always surfaces is, “Why do you do what you do?” I can think of a million reasons why CASA is invaluable to our community, but one at the top of my list is, “I do it for our children.” While our statistics, our stories, and legislative wins are vital, my real hope lies in the next generation, the future leaders who are watching us today, learning that compassion is a verb.
This past February, I had the pleasure of bringing my youngest daughter, Nora, with me to the Georgia CASA Day at the Capitol. She is currently in 8th grade and is studying Georgia History. What better ‘fieldtrip’ than going to the Capitol? Seeing the day of legislative advocacy through her eyes reminded me that our mission isn't just about policy, it’s about modeling advocacy for those who will one day lead in our place.
I asked Nora to share her perspective on the day, and her reflections perfectly capture why we do what we do:
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By Nora, Daughter of the Executive Director
"When we arrived, I noticed how crowded the room was and that everyone was wearing red in support of Georgia CASA. The energy in the room was inspiring. After listening to the speeches and hearing the statistics about funding and the children served, I began to understand how deeply people care about children in foster care. It was powerful to see so many individuals gathered for the same purpose.
My mom has never been one to strictly follow every rule, so while most people were going through (Capitol building) security, we were delivering bags in the building next door filled with CASA goodies to our state representatives! We joined one of my mom’s volunteers, Tammy, to pass them out and even had the opportunity to take a photo with Governor Brian Kemp.
During lunch, I met so many new people and learned more about their involvement. Overall, the day was very exciting and showed me how much people care about children and foster care.
My takeaways from the CASA at the Capitol was that even though everyone that participated in helping out the kids, the funding needs to be raised to best serve children. It was truly a wonderful thing to see people going out of their way to care for these children that have not had a fair life. It has changed my view of humanity."
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Nora’s takeaway, that people truly care, is the foundation of everything we achieve. Whether we are making sure our representatives get their advocacy kit or standing on the Capitol steps for a photo, we are showing our youth that showing up matters. The future of advocacy is bright because it is being built on a legacy of compassion and empathy. When we involve our children and youth in this work, we aren't just telling them to be kind; we are showing them how to be bold advocates. Being kind and an advocate for those in need are rules we never break.
Thank you for being part of the CASA mission that inspires the next generation to lead with their hearts.
With gratitude,
Lindsay Dycus
