The Special Olympics Delegation from Southern and Northern California with Governor Gavin Newsom in Sacramento.
From March 11th to March 13th, Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) and Special Olympics Northern California joined together for their annual Special Olympics Lobby Days at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.
On Monday, March 11th, the SOSC team, accompanied by their Northern California counterparts, kicked off the series of events with floor presentations at the Capitol building.
In the afternoon, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 155 took center stage, with Assemblymember presenters Tom Lackey and Timothy Grayson. The measure proclaims March 11 as Special Olympics Day in California. Assemblymember Lackey warmly welcomed the Special Olympics delegation, seated in the gallery, and expressed recognition for their invaluable contributions to communities across California.
The delegation then moved to the Senate, where Senate Concurrent Resolution 120 saw Senator Josh Becker take to the Senate floor to recognize March 11 as Special Olympics Day in California. He described the profound impact of the Special Olympics movement as he welcomed Kelly Pond, CEO, Special Olympics Southern California, and David Solo, CEO, Special Olympics Northern California, to the Senate floor while the delegation proudly watched from the gallery.
Both resolutions passed unanimously.
SOSC Athlete Leader Logan Jones, who participated in Special Olympics Lobby Days, found it both exciting and essential to moving Special Olympics momentum forward. Reflecting on his time at the Capitol, Jones recounted, “Tuesday was when all the fun stuff happened. We had meetings with legislators or their aides, and I got to share my story with them. Some legislators really connected with my story, like Senator Steve Padilla and Assemblymember Tom Lackey. It was amazing to see how my story resonated with them.”
The impact of the legislative meetings extended far beyond the walls of the Capitol.
As Jones shared, “After all those meetings, we had a small party where I got to talk with the legislators even more. It was a chance to deepen our connections and forge lasting bonds.”
Wednesday brought meetings with more legislators and aides, including a memorable encounter with Governor Gavin Newsom himself!
“Meeting Governor Newsom was an unreal experience,” Jones reflected. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I’ll cherish forever.”
In the end, Special Olympics Lobby Days were not just a series of meetings: they were a testament to the power of the Special Olympics movement. Jones summed up his experience with gratitude, saying, “I had a blast doing Lobby Days, and I want to thank Special Olympics for the opportunity. It’s something I’ll talk about for a very long time.”
