On a sunny day in June 2024, Virgil Parker climbed the steps of the nation’s Capitol Building. He was there to speak truth to power, and he wasn’t alone.  

Virgil was among hundreds of other grassroots advocates who had trekked to Washington, D.C. for the annual event. Hosted by the United Nations Association for the USA (UNA-USA), the annual lobby day brings people from across the country to Capitol Hill to voice their support for the UN’s mission — and the SDGs.  

“The idea was how do we get more people invested in what’s happening, not just within our country, but in the global society, especially people of color,” Virgil says. “Most people are probably familiar with the United Nations, of course, but there are still so many everyday people who don’t know what the SDGs are.” 

As a Global Goals Ambassador for UNA-USA, Virgil is focused on elevating SDG 4: Quality Education by elevating the needs of underrepresented communities and emphasizing education as a crucial pathway out of poverty and inequality.  

Virgil believes rallying youth around the SDGs now will be pivotal in the long run. “You’re looking at future professionals, public servants, leaders, and executives who can continue on the path of whichever one or more of the SDGs they decide to support or feel most passionate about,” Virgil says.  

“It sounds grandiose, but we can all do our part in our community to ensure that America is achieving these global objectives.”  

By M.J. Altman, United Nations Foundation