Political Advocacy
“Things were meant to be used, people were meant to be loved. The reason why the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used.”
— Dalai Lama XIV
After a successful legislative meeting with then NJ Assembly Budget Chair Gary Schaer
Talking to college students on campus about college affordability and advocacy
National grassroots organizing training for the Board of Directors for the USSA
After organizing a rally for college affordability with Bernie Sanders
Holding a petition dedication ceremony outside of Senator Mitch McConnell's office
Outside of the Supreme Court in DC after Gay Marriage was legalized
Awarding White House Staff with United States Student Association ally of the year
Advocacy Experience
United States Student Association
Washington D.C. | 2014 - 2015
Justin was the last Legislative Director of the United States Student Association (USSA), which was the oldest and largest national organization of students for over 60 years. He represented over 1.2 million students around the country and was responsible for virtually all contact and cooperation between USSA and the White House, U.S. Congress, and the Department of Education. Justin also spent a significant amount of his time in this position traveling all over the country, going to different institutions of higher education and engaging them in national education advocacy campaigns as well as training students to succeed in their local campaigns. Furthermore, Justin analyzed all policy for the organization, gave policy recommendations, and provided both policy briefs and legislative updates to all student membership across the country. Finally, Justin was also responsible for overseeing the organization’s National Legislative Conference which brought students around the country to advocate for issues of affordability and accessibility in higher education. In this conference, he conducted advocacy trainings as well as scheduled over 70 congressional meetings for students with their respective senator and local representative.
New Jersey United Students
New Brunswick, NJ | 2013 - 2014
In his final year of college at Rutgers University, Justin was elected the Legislative Affairs Chair of New Jersey United Students (NJUS), the statewide student association of NJ. While juggling both class and advocacy, Justin succeeded in writing and seeing the passage of a budget resolution for the Educational Opportunity Fund totaling $1.365 million dollars. This was the part of a larger campaign that he spearheaded, known as the Higher Education Legislative Package (HELP) Campaign, which was a package of 8 separate bills focused on improving the state of higher education in New Jersey. On top of his responsibilities to attend legislative meetings, create press material, run press conferences, and run a committee, he was also the head of policy analysis, creating policy briefs, and heading a coalition of student groups and non-profit organizations
New Jersey Public Interest Research Group
NJ | 2011 - 2013
Getting politically engaged started early for Justin when he got involved with the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJ PIRG) in his sophomore year of college. Originally just starting with joining campaigns in voter registration and campaign finance reform, he quickly moved up by becoming elected not only the campaign leader of End Citizens United, but also the New Brunswick Chapter Chair and eventually the State Board Chair for all of New Jersey. Being the State Board Chair left Justin responsible for overseeing not only his own chapter at Rutgers New Brunswick, but also coordination with the other NJ PIRG campuses as well. In 2012, Justin headed the New Voter’s Project which was a voter registration drive that signed up over 4000 students to vote in the state.
