Bring Your Voice to Capitol Hill
Join hundreds of advocates from across the mentoring movement as we meet with Congress to elevate the importance of mentoring and expand opportunities for young people.
No advocacy experience required. MENTOR provides the training, materials, and schedules your congressional meetings.
Capitol Hill Day brings together mentoring advocates from across the country – including program leaders, volunteer mentors, researchers, funders, parents, and youth champions – to meet with members of Congress and their staff.
Together, participants share real stories, advocate for federal mentoring priorities, and help lawmakers understand how mentoring strengthens communities.
Whether you’re a first-time advocate or a returning participant, MENTOR provides everything you need to be successful.
Why Participate?
We’ve Got You Covered:
✓ MENTOR schedules your meetings with Congress
✓ Comprehensive advocacy training
✓ Policy materials and leave-behind resources
✓ Guidance from your state’s Capitol Hill Day captain
✓ Free Capitol Hill Day T-shirt
✓ Support every step of the way
Key Dates:
November 2, 2026: Registration opens
January 1, 2027: CHD registration closes (or when capacity is reached)
January 19, 2027: Optional virtual training
January 26, 2027: Required in-person training
January 27, 2027: Capitol Hill Day
CHD registration is free with National Mentoring Summit registration. Space is limited.
Questions? Please contact Abbie Evans with any questions about CHD preparation or logistics.
What You’ll Experience
- Connect with advocates from across the country
- Learn practical advocacy skills from MENTOR experts
- Meet with your members of Congress and their staff
- Share why mentoring matters in your community
- Leave knowing you’ve helped strengthen the mentoring movement
Your Voice Matters
Frequently Asked Questions
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How can I prepare for Capitol Hill Day before January? Think about the stories and impact you’ll want to share with congressional offices. Helpful information includes your program’s focus, who you serve, outcomes, and how mentoring makes a difference in your community.Â
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I registered for Capitol Hill Day. When should I expect my first email about the event? Depending on when you register, participants will receive their first CHD email once in November, twice in December, and weekly in January. Emails will come from your state’s CHD State Captain.Â
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Will I schedule my own congressional meetings for CHD? No. MENTOR will schedule all congressional meetings for CHD. You will receive your personalized meeting schedule on Friday, January 22. Some meetings will still be listed as pending at that time – that’s normal!Â
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I’ve never participated in an advocacy activity. Can I still participate in Capitol Hill Day? Yes! In fact, every year, roughly 60 percent of CHD participants are new to grassroots advocacy. We offer two trainings to prepare everyone for a successful Hill Day: New advocates and first-time CHD participants are encouraged to participate in the virtual CHD training, and all participants must attend the in-person training on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the Summit hotel.Â
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I work for a nonprofit organization. Can I participate in this grassroots advocacy event? Yes. Capitol Hill Day is a nonpartisan event. Â
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Is there a cost to participating in CHD? No, participation in Capitol Hill Day is free to any National Mentoring Summit registrant. However, please know that all CHD participants must attend the in-person training at the Summit hotel on January 26. This may require an additional hotel night’s stay.Â
Capitol Hill Day Resources
Review some of the materials and resources provided to last year’s Capitol Hill Day participants. Keep an eye on this page – MENTOR will update resources and information for the 2027 event as we get closer to January.
More Than a Decade of Advocacy
Since 2014, Capitol Hill Day has brought together thousands of mentoring advocates to educate members of Congress about the power of mentoring and the importance of investing in young people.
Over the years, advocates have helped build awareness of mentoring, strengthen bipartisan support, and elevate federal investments that expand mentoring opportunities nationwide.
