Emily Villalta is passionate about education policy and how it intersects with childhood poverty and early childhood development. Villalta believes that every child is entitled to equal access to resources that will guide them toward academic success and encourage students to pursue higher education. The junior, a public policy major, was named a Karabelle Pizzigati fellow in February. The fellowship, a joint initiative with the School of Public Policy and the School of Public Health – inspires exceptional students to embark on careers in children's advocacy through hands-on experience working with organizations that make a true impact in children’s lives.
What inspired your interest in children's advocacy?
I’ve always believed that children are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, as well as the most impressionable, but when I learned of the jarring statistic that 1 in 6 children under age five lived in poverty in America, I was absolutely horrified of the lack of support that children face in one of the most developed countries in the world. I asked myself “Why and how are we failing our most vulnerable and defenseless groups of people in a country with so much privilege and power?” When learning or reading about any public problem, I now constantly ask myself: “How are kids being impacted? How are they being protected?” and I believe that is making me a stronger advocate in itself.
Why did you apply for the fellowship and what experience do you hope to gain?
After hearing from previous fellows about their experiences and what they gained through the fellowship, I was encouraged to apply in hopes of deepening my understanding of advocacy, more specifically advocacy for children. I have always been an outspoken person about social causes I am passionate about but I am excited to learn how to properly advocate for children’s issues and influence change at a local and state level.
Why do you choose to study public policy?
I believe that if we want to see change in the world, even if it is small, we have to do our part in initiating and pushing for it. A vital part of that process is learning and understanding complex yet important issues and then finding innovative solutions to those problems – studying public policy is just that.
