During this class semester former Councilwoman Elena Guajardo has been invited to speak to graduate social work policy and graduate political science students. This month she will be a guest lecturer at UTSA, Texas State University, and Our Lady of the Lake University. Her presentation covers the topics of campaign, campaign fundraising and reporting, how to effectively lobby, advocating and how various groups effect the policy created, the inside game, personal stories of various votes, the complexity of some votes and why social workers should consider running for office.

One of the professors wrote: “it gave them a lot of insight into the “groups” that play such a large role in that process, elevating them from just a dry concept in the texts/articles they read into real people with real needs. It also was great for them to see how accessible and “real” a former councilmember can be.”