Note: Athena Jones is an home care worker and Grassroots Lobbyist through SEIU's Change That Works campaign.

Students file in wearing colors mixed like an unsolved Rubik's cube--some wearing chords representing achievement and honors. Friends straighten each other's caps. The rainbow of the march is accompanied by a violin and the pomp and circumstances of cameras flashing. As smiles of achievement shine, each student's hard work and the pride of a family is represented with a cap and gown.

You would not notice or look twice at the needs of these high achievers. Each representing the overtaking of a struggle, brandished with the hopes of the Dream.

Onlookers could never have imagined Tuesday's commencement speech to be anything more than a student talking about bridging gaps to adulthood or hoping for the 10 year reunion. As she began to speak - I'll call her Anna - Anna spoke of her graduating from high school with honors and successfully completing college with a double major in biology and psychology. Her parents spoke to her of the hope, of education and the Dream of what America could be. She was the product of undocumented parents. They brought her here under the cover of a better future when she was eight, and she too was undocumented. Anna began to tell of the hurt she felt towards the only country she knew and the many opportunities lost because she does not have a 9 digit number assigned to her name.

Anna is a high achieving, college-educated student with honors. The U.S. government saw her as an illegal immigrant worthy of nothing better than being deported. Her undocumented status shadowed her amazing credentials. I imagine she never knew, regardless of her academic success, her ultimate diploma would be a letter of deportation.

Nine SEIU members and workers from key states across the country have relocated to Washington, DC this spring for a three-month long stint as a Grassroots Lobbyist (GRLs) on Capitol Hill. Our member lobbyists spend most days inside the halls of Congress, meeting with key legislative staff and speaking to lawmakers about creating change that works for their families and communities--affordable healthcare for all, the freedom to form a union, and restoring economic strength to Main Street.

Meet Susie Young, one of the amazing grassroots lobbyists who has spent the last few months fighting the good fight with SEIU here in D.C. "This has been one of the best experiences of my life," says Susie of her time spent as a GRL. "I have always enjoyed politics and watch a lot of CNN, MSNBC, and C-SPAN, but it is different and a lot more exciting to be a participant."

Read what Susie has to say about her experiences lobbying for healthcare reform, from the perspective of a front-line caregiver:

"Healthcare reform has been the primary focus since I have been here. I have attended all the Senate hearings on healthcare reform chaired by Senator Baucus, and also a couple of hearings in the House, and met with many of our senators and representatives. There is a common thread that both Democrats and Republicans agree on. In the healthcare reform bill, both sides feel there needs to be prevention and wellness and more community centers especially in rural areas. Both sides also agree that we need to address the shortage of primary care physicians, and eliminate pre-existing conditions.

"Unfortunately, here the two sides do not agree on the public option plan. One of the best arguments for the public plan is that it would give competition to the private plan. There are states that only have one private insurance company - like Maine - and if there was competition with a public plan, it would drive costs down.

"One of the reasons for the high costs is chronic and long-term care. During the hearings, it was mentioned that 5% of Medicare patients use 50% of the money. High re-admission rates to hospitals are also a big problem. Addressing long-term care and chronic conditions must be part of healthcare reform.

"Home care can be part of the solution. Washington is a leader in serving people in home- and community-based care, and I've been able to tell my story from a home care workers perspective. Over the years, I have kept my clients in their home. When I see a medical problem, it is addressed immediately. My clients have chronic conditions and I know if there were no home care services, then there would have been different outcomes. There are many states where home and community based care is not an option or where there are waiting lists. This must be addressed as part of healthcare reform.

"When Congress went home for the Memorial Day recess, the grassroots lobbyists traveled to Virginia to help with local events. We spoke with everybody. We waved signs. We knocked on every single door. If they were walking in the streets, we stopped them. If they were driving, and at a four-way stop, we approached them. I was walking down the street, wearing my purple SEIU healthcare shirt, and carrying flyers and a clipboard. A lady in a van stopped and wanted to know if this was about healthcare. She pulled over and had a great healthcare story to tell.

"So many people have healthcare stories or they know someone who is suffering because they lack access to healthcare. They want to share their stories, and are willing to come to events and write letters to their senators. They want to participate. There is a real movement happening around healthcare. I can feel it, but the best part is that you really feel for the first time, healthcare is within reach. It is an awesome feeling to give people Hope. The grassroots lobbyists have been working so hard on the Hill, and it felt good to be out in the streets!"

(This letter is reposted from SEIU Healthcare 775NW's website)

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Note: Susie Young is a home care aide and a Grassroots Lobbyist through SEIU's Change That Works campaign.

Read more blog posts written by SEIU Grassroots Member Lobbyists here, here and here.